Islamabad, June 25 (ANI): Aap bhi mere talluq se zabaan bandh rakhein/main bhi koshish na karun aapki ruswaii kii (For the sake of propriety it would be better if you didn't discus your opinion about me and I will also try not to embarrass you by disclosing my views about you) The Indian and Pakistani Foreign Secretaries probably decided on this approach when meeting with the media at the end of their two days of deliberations on confidence building measures between the two countries.
The hastily reconvened joint press conference was harmonious and devoid of any surprise element; just as previous interactions between the media and Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir have been. Both are not given to dramatics and are known to not fall for any bait laid by journalists. Though Salman Bashir's comment to the Indian media last year that the evidence provided by India on 26/11 was "mere literature" was pilloried for a while, there was no cussedness or causticity visible this time.
At the talks that were held at the delegation level, the Kashmir issue consumed almost four hours. Both sides expressed their stated positions on the political front on which there has been no watering down, despite the fears expressed by status-quoists in both countries.
India now does not hesitate in discussing Kashmir with confidence. There is no back-footing on this issue. The successful culmination of the panchayat level-elections, the positive reaction of people towards the central government appointed interlocutors and the return of peace in Kashmir has given the Indian side the much needed confidence not to be ruffled at the mention of the 'K' word at every India-Pak meet.
Somewhere the charm factor was at work in the past two days. Pakistan decided to set aside the political squabbling over Kashmir, the demand for plebiscite and the jugular vein refrain and actually sit down to chalk out some actual steps that could lead to confidence building measures on Kashmir. Finalising a liberalised visa agreement, increasing trade and travel across the Line of Control (LoC), increasing banking linkages were some of the confidence building measures that were being given shape. The two Foreign Secretaries will meet again next month ahead of the Foreign Ministers level meet expected to take place end July.
The confidence with which India talks about Kashmir today is a tad different from what it was a few years ago. There is no pussy-footing on the 'K' issue now. And the confidence stems from the positives in Kashmir, as also the national security doctrine, which has become lesser and lesser focused on Pakistan.
New Delhi has approved an outlay of Rs 6,600 crores for Kashmir besides a 1,200 crores that is to come from the Prime Minister's reconstruction programme. Where does that compare with the Kashmir on the Pakistani side? PoK or Azad Kashmir gets crumbs from Islamabad. Even if in all fairness one is to admit that Pakistan lags behind in economic terms when compared to India, yet the fact is that Kashmiris realize today that 'Kashmir banega Pakistan' is a doomsday scenario.
Some Pakistani newspapers today lamented with headlines that proclaimed that the most crucial issue of Kashmir was "left for another day". It wasn't. Both countries did state their respective positions. Pakistan believes that plebiscite should be held in Kashmir under the UN auspices. India has a parliamentary resolution that uniting POK with India is the unfinished agenda of partition. While Pakistan thinks that Kashmir is its "dukhti rug" jugular vein, Indian politicians continue to call it "atoot ang" unbreakable limb.
One could either go on repeating these lines ad-nauseum and live with it as one has for the past 63 years and fought 3 wars over its status. Or one could set them aside for a while, and work towards the betterment of the people caught in the crossfire, till such a time that some convergence can be worked out on the political front.
No boundaries are being re-drawn, nor borders left unguarded. But guns have to be silenced and people have to be given the right to live with dignity. Bold leaders have to convince their people that it is the best way for civilized people to live. By Smita Prakash (ANI)
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