Setting the ground

We must hope that Pakistan and India will continue to move towards the ultimate goal of long-lasting peace.

India’s almost invariably stoic External Affairs Minister SM Krishna has struck a note of some excitement as he begins a three-day visit to Pakistan for talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar. Mr Krishna’s enthusiasm, expressed on the eve of his visit in an exclusive email interview with this newspaper is encouraging, as is the new buoyancy in his tone. He says that he brings with him a message of goodwill and hopes his visit can pave the way for the solution of important bilateral issues. The minister also hoped that a visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would also be made possible. Talk of this important trip has been heard several times before, most recently when PM Singh and President Asif Ali Zardari met on the sidelines of the NAM Summit in Iran.

But aside from the symbolism of a visit by the Indian PM, there are other, more practical matters to deal with. Mr Krishna said that a patient, consistent approach and sufficient perseverance could lead to the solution of entrenched issues such as Sir Creek and Siachen. Certainly, an effort must be made to sort these issues so we can progress towards a true easing of tensions and take on that key issue of Kashmir. Mr Krishna also confirmed that on this visit, a new visa regime, already agreed on at secretary-level talks, would be finalised and greater access would be given to people to move across borders.

All this is significant; but what is most important is that Pakistan and India have reached out to each other again, with the 2008 Mumbai attack and its damaging aftermath finally put aside. However, one must not forget that the peace process has and will remain extremely prone to accidents for a long time. Therefore, the two governments should take extra care not to send their respective media on wild goose chases against each other by leaking any negative development. Negatives should always be discussed away from the media glare at the highest institutional levels so as not to jeopardise the overall peace process. We must hope that the neighbours will continue to move towards the ultimate goal of long-lasting peace. Mr Krishna’s visit constitutes a key stepping stone in this process, with his quite evident eagerness to move on, offering a great deal of hope for the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2012.