E D I T O R I A L

Let peace prevail in the sub continent

ON April 20 a news agency report that appeared in most newspapers in the Indian sub continent said 'Lot of ground covered for agreement on Kashmir'. It gladdened all those who wish peace between the two warring nations. It had quoted, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri “Lot of ground has been covered for an agreement on Kashmir and some areas of differences are being sorted out… certain steps are needed to create a conducive environment so that the two governments could sell the "package to the people of Pakistan, India and Kashmir". He also added that, “The two countries are moving towards a settlement of the Kashmir issue that might not be the first best choice for all the three parties (India, Pakistan and Kasmiris) but it could be the second best”. This report was from a responsible Pakistani daily newspaper. The Pakistan Foreign Minister also said that the progress made on the Kashmir package was irreversible and it did not matter whether the Musharraf government in Pakistan and that of Congress in India remained in power or not.

When asked about the role of mujahideen, he said President Musharraf had given a statement regarding Pakistan's influence on militants but it was grossly misunderstood. Musharraf had said that Pakistan could use its influence on militants to persuade them to give up militancy. To a question, Kasuri said contrary to the general perception progress had been made by the two countries since the commencement of peace process in January 2004. He said that the two sides were engaged in talks on the resolution of bilateral disputes at both the formal and informal level.

Realisation had emerged on both sides of the border that war could not bring a solution to Kashmir or any other issue on the composite dialogue agenda. On the Siachen issue, Kasuri said the proposals given by Pakistan for the settlement of contentious matter served the interests of both countries.  He found India's political leadership is in "favour" of a negotiated settlement to Siachen issue but some statements by Indian defense authorities in this regard are "surprising," Kasuri said while denying media reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Pakistan was linked to the solution of Siachen or Sir Creek issue.

It was given out in Pakistan  that the proposed package bears resemblance to President Pervez Musharraf's four-point Kashmir plan seeking self-rule for Kasmiris, demilitarisation of the disputed territory, free movement across the Line of Control (LoC) and joint management by Pakistan and India.

For the past ten days, there has been no official word although a major opposition party in India, the BJP repeatedly demanded a statement from the prime minister. Dr Manmohan Singh only said that he was optimist about growing friendly relations, but did not share what the Pakistan government was saying. Eve during the much touted Round Table conference on Kashmir in New Delhi, nothing of that sort emerged. But some kind of troop withdrawal or dislocation was talking place in Indian Kashmir. There was also some optimism and the visit of Kashmir leaders from Pakistani Kashmir and hard line maulanas too indicated something was expected.  It is not only Musharraf who needs some good pep news during an election year when he is striking deals with Benazir Bhutto  or Indian Congress, but the people of the sub continent sick of  war and hatred. We all eagerly wait the good news and prove our skepticism wrong.

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