Talks in New Delhi

The foreign ministers of both countries are to meet in New Delhi today, hawks wishing that they come to naught.

Talks between Pakistan and India in July have become a regular feature — and for some that is perhaps an end in itself. Last time, the venue was Thimphu and the year before that Sharm-el-Sheikh. Both meetings were held amid mutual suspicion and acrimony. In the latter, the Indian prime minister made some very encouraging remarks but it seems that his resolve was undercut by vested interests in the Indian establishment who did not want to see ties between the two countries return to any semblance of normality after the 26/11. The foreign ministers of both countries are scheduled to meet in New Delhi today, with the hawks on both sides yet again wishing that they come to naught. It has been reported that some confidence-building measures related to Kashmir (such as increasing the number of trading days, opening more bus routes and allowing more entry points through the Line of Control) may come out of the meeting, but it remains to be seen whether other pressing matters of conflict will be addressed in any realistic manner.

As with the previous July meetings, the New Delhi summit will be heavily focused on 26/11. Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has already made it clear that he will demand that Pakistan bring the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks to justice. This is a clear reference to Hafiz Saeed and several members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba who are being tried in a Pakistani court (though the case seems to have dragged on inordinately long). An additional concern for Pakistan will be the performance of newly-minted Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. There is concern that her lack of experience makes her unsuitable for the job and this wasn’t helped by an undiplomatic remark on India she made soon upon assuming office. That said, the talks do present an opportunity for those on either side who wish for peace between the two countries to assert themselves. In Pakistan, all political parties are agreed on the need for a lasting peace with India, while across the border perhaps the biggest proponent of harmonious coexistence with Pakistan seems to be none other than Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th,  2011.