New Dehli and Islamabad have decided to resume the high-level composite dialogue, as was expected once new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assumed charge of his office.
The composite dialogue has from time and again fell victim of various incidents, like the Mumbai attacks, cross-border aggressions from both sides and firing incidents along the Line of Control (LOC).
Such incidents always contributed in pulling both countries apart at times they neared some significant milestone for peace.
Whenever Islamabad and New Delhi tried to come closer, incidents like Kargil war, Godhra train incident, Mumbai strikes and border aggressions became the reasons that halted the peace process, pushing both sides miles apart.
In all his tenures, Nawaz Sharif did all to improve bilateral ties between the two South East Asian countries, be it the initiation of ‘Dosti Bus Service’ or Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore.
After a long time, the Pakistani government is again trying to improve ties with India, to which the Indian government has responded positively, re-initiating top level contacts between the two neighbours.
Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz met Indian Minister for External Affairs Salman Khurshid on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Brunei, the first high-level bilateral contact between the two countries in months.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and discussions focused on building better relations between the two countries.
The Indian external affairs minister conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and expressed his government’s desire to engage with Pakistan on all issues and work on improving bilateral relations.
Reciprocating the warm sentiments of the Indian EAM, the Aziz informed him that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was giving priority to improved relations with India by picking up the threads from the Lahore process of 1999.
He felt that in order to ensure lasting peace and security in the region, it was necessary to discuss all outstanding issues and confidence building proposals.
Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries could act as a catalyst and raise the confidence level on both sides that would allow a sustained peace process, Aziz said.
In this regard, the adviser appreciated the recent visit of the Indian energy mission to Pakistan in which trade in electricity and gas was discussed.
Both ministers discussed steps further needed in this regard.
They also agreed that the Pakistan-India Joint Business Council meeting, which just concluded its session in Islamabad on June 29, was another important mechanism that would help in taking the peace process forward.
Referring to the positive outcome of the ARF meeting, both leaders were of the view that regional cooperation would give an impetus to economic development and prosperity of South and South-East Asia. Decisions taken at the ARF should be translated into action soon.
The two hoped that the bilateral dialogue process between Pakistan and India would resume in the next few months.
Aziz said there was a possibility of a meeting between PM Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in September.
Talking to reporters after meeting Salman Khurshid, Aziz said Pakistan wanted to build a strong relationship with India.
