Focus would be on preventing the peace process from being derailed by any incident: Official. PHOTO: FILE
The federal government has decided to revive ‘backdoor diplomacy’ with India as part of efforts to normalise ties with its nuclear-armed neighbour.
A senior government official, who is engaged in foreign policy matters, told The Express Tribune that a retired diplomat will soon be appointed to pursue the normalisation process with India through the backchannel – which refers to negotiations which take place away from the public glare.
The two countries have used backchannel diplomacy in the past – the 2003 ceasefire agreement across the Line of Control is credited to such a process.
Under former president Pervez Musharraf’s regime, his close aide Tariq Aziz and veteran Indian diplomat S K Lambah were engaged in secret diplomacy to find an out-of-box solution to the longstanding Kashmir dispute.
In a background briefing, a top foreign ministry official said the focus of the backdoor diplomacy would be on preventing the peace process between the two countries from being derailed by any incident.
“Unfortunately, Pakistan-India relations are accident prone,” the official added. The two countries need to set up a mechanism to ensure the peace process stays on track.
The official dismissed the impression that Pakistan government’s approach was ‘apologetic’ towards India. “The focus of the new government is to put its own house in order so that we can talk to India from a position of strength,” he said.
“And for that we need some time,” the official added when asked as to why Pakistan was reluctant to publicly talk about India’s involvement in destabilising the country.
The official acknowledged that the recent attack on foreign tourists at a Nanga Parbat base camp had both ‘internal and external dimensions’. “Once the investigations are complete we will raise this issue,” he added.
Former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan said the new government must not make any hasty decision on foreign policy issues, especially on ties with India. “Sometimes you need to rely on backchannel but the major disputes such as Kashmir must not be discussed secretly,” Shamshad cautioned.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 27th, 2013.
COMMENTS (23)
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@Lala Gee: Obviously, you don't understand the power of talking to each other, even if you don't achieve any tangible results. Have you never heard of the old wisdom inherent in the adage that "people who talk don't shoot"? And as far as results are concerned, one has to be realistic enough to understand that decades of brainwashing and hate-mongering amongst Pakistanis cannot be washed away with one or two sittings between procalimed "enemies", such as you are trying to project. Building bridges of understanding can take years and even decades but blowing them away takes only a few minutes or even seconds. Pakistan has had several opportunities to mend fences but it has time and gain resorted to covert acts of terrorism which had, in fact, become a tool for achieving its foreign policy goals. Its entire foreign policy and, in fact, its raison d'etre were guided by the all-pervasive hate-India principle. Do you think that the other side, by which I clearly mean India, can forgive and forget the inglorious acts perpetrated by Pakistani terrorists who were responsible for the killing of innocent and unarmed men, women and even children? Such things take time, unfortunately. But YOU (Pakistanis) have to demonstrate your sincerity in living like a civilized next-door neighbour. This has, sadly, been missing so far since you attained "independence" 65 years ago. There are many decent and law-abiding Pakitanis but their voice is missing. They have become silent spectators.
@Lala Gee
"What you got from the endless previous talks? You can keep talking with them for the whole millennium just to realize they’re still there where they started from."
I think it is more of a linguistic problem, than lack of intent from either party. Just as Indians don't understand Arabic, Pakistanis don't understand Hindi/Sanskrit. We simply speak different language, as we were told by the greatest historian and social engineer ever walked on earth, sixty six years ago. Agreed, we should stop talking.
@M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA: Please do not try to visit India. You will be OK. This is not a life and death issue. Yes, your wife is from INDIA, but you are past that point. You can live your life with out going to India.
This type of backdoor diplomacy has always damage Pakistan and the trust of own people. We are too bad in this and Indians are gainer.I don't know under which strategy or pressure we go for such talk.Our own people cause damage to our principle stand on various issues through such talks.
"In a background briefing, a top foreign ministry official said the focus of the backdoor diplomacy would be on preventing the peace process between the two countries from being derailed by any incident." ys Derailed?!!!! The derailment always happens from the Pakistani side! Actually its all a ruse designed to deceive India into making concessions. It works like this. The Pakistani establishment are all in this together. They just pretend that there are the "Islamists" who only want to destroy India, and then the "rationalists" who want peace. The "rationalists" task is to make India concede almost everything, by hook or crook, blackmailing India that if they dont make the concessions Pakistan wants, the Islamists will wreak havoc on India. And Yes!!! There are millions of Indians foolish enough to believe that Pakistan wants 'peace".
@Gaga Lee:
"Since @Lala Gee didn’t find it important enough to comment upon, you should do likewise. You should rather talk about Goa, Sikim, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Junagadh, Kashmir, Sachar and housing problem of muslim celebrities in india."
"Gaga" Lee .... really? Hahaaha.
@nishant “why pakistan was reluctant to publicly talk about india”s involvement in destabilising the country’ Since @Lala Gee didn’t find it important enough to comment upon, you should do likewise. You should rather talk about Goa, Sikim, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Junagadh, Kashmir, Sachar and housing problem of muslim celebrities in india.
I think that the Pakistanis are either too innocent or they lack the ability to look into the future. Decades have passed by in the name of Kashmir Valley. Nothing happened. Still if you believe the backdoor diplomacy works, its laughable. If the Article 1 of the Indian Constitution prohibits the Govt. of India in giving even an inch of land from the Union of India to anybody, it is really confusing & interesting to see what will be the outcome of such talks after another 66 years.
@abc: hello Muslim, you have to invite 180 Million muslims of India, since you know the theory and practicality that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together peacefully., you should welcome you brothers in India to Pakistan or force then to come back to pakistan as if pakistan was made for Indian muslim....
"... so that we can talk to India from a position of strength" What's that supposed to mean? All that Pakistan should try and do is to present itself as a credible interlocutor, that it is in a position to follow through with any decisions arrived at. So far, to take just one example (forget the more difficult issues), even on the MFN, the Government has failed to deliver. If, however, the comment is just a case of an unhappy construction of language, and what the official actually means is that the new Government, beset with some grave internal issues, needs time to gather a consensus, well that makes better sense.
Salaams M Rafique bhai I agree with you i was also born in india.They making it difficult
India and Pakistan broke all their normal relations in 1947, fought four wars and still continuing in unfriendly activities against each other. The very basics do not support normal relations. If as per two nation theory, Hindus and Muslims can not live together peacefully, then why bother to have friendly relations? Normalcy between two does not look normal.
Mr. Rafique Zakarya.
Furnish required documents and believe me IHC Islamabad will issue you a visa.
Talks between India and Pakistan in last 65 years gave us 1965 and 1871 war, Kargil attack, Mumbai blast, 26/11 attack, attack on Parliament and we are still talking. Talks lead to concessions in export to EU in exchange for MFN. Still waiting for that MFN that was suppose to be given decades ago. Lets talk more as it gives warm fuzzy feeling to politicians. NS welcomes ABV in the backdrop of Kargil. Lets see what happens next.
@GhostRider:
"What is the problem in conducting front door diplomacy??"
ROFL. Great sense of humor.
Who cares. Just end all diplomatic relations. We don't need them.
@Lala Gee: exactly....so just move on....
@GhostRider: What is the problem in conducting front door diplomacy??
Pakistanis are afraid of being impregnated with modern, secular, non-violent ideas. Moreover they want to hide this affair from their masters - Saudi Arabia and China.
What is the problem in conducting front door diplomacy??
"why pakistan was reluctant to publicly talk about india"s involvement in destabilising the country'
because there is no truth in the story,,,just think if that would have been there ,why will pakistan leave any stone unturned to embarass india publicly and in international forums,,like everyother country do against pakistan...
there has to be some basis to take that issue up with india..it is their propaganda to satisfy local population
Some people never learn. What you got from the endless previous talks? India is more than happy to do anything that involves only talking, but nothing more. You can keep talking with them for the whole millennium just to realize they're still there where they started from. Some things never get straight, no matter how long you keep them in a straight position. No need to waste your time and our money.
Normalisation process? Nothing but an eyewash. India is not issuing visas to Pakistani nationals desiring to travel to India whereas Pakistan embassy in New Delhi issues thousands of visas every year particularly to Sikhs for visiting Nankana Saheb.
I am trying to acquire Indian visa for the last 2 years but can' because of the strict rules and regulations laid down by India for Pakistani nationals to get sponsorship certificate signed by Indian government officials. Now why would an Indian government official sign a piece of paper with details of Pakistani nationals whom he doesn't even know. I have been to India 6-7 times in the last 20 years because my wife belongs to India.
Today, even she can't travel to India because she embraced Pakistani nationality 20 years ago. It is time India takes notice of Indian visa seekers from Pakistan and relax visa rules.
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA Karachi.