Meaningful? Remains to be seen!
A meeting between Sartaj Aziz and Salman Khurshid has finally taken place in Bishkek where both were present to attend the ministerial moot of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). There are indications that the informal meeting ended to the mutual satisfaction of both sides. The meeting would be considered meaningful only if it leads to higher level talks between Nawaz Sharif and Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in the last week of this month, presumably on September 29. As things stand the most that one may reasonably expect from the expected meeting between the two prime ministers is peace and calm on the LoC and a willingness to resume the process of composite dialogue which was thrown off the track after the border incidents in August.
With India preparing for general elections due next year, there is little hope of any worthwhile development in Pak-India relations at this stage. The ruling coalition and the opposition would both be so engrossed in domestic politics that it would be expecting too much from the government to take any courageous decisions to bring the two countries closer. Whenever in opposition, the Hindu nationalist BJP becomes virulently opposed to an improvement of ties between India and Pakistan. A hawkish section of the Indian media too follows a similar course. This is what happened after the border incidents last month. In this milieu, Manmohan Singh’s government cannot afford be seen to be soft on Pakistan as this can cost it votes in the polls. Any significant move towards promotion of goodwill will have to wait till the elections are over in India.
A report in the Indian daily The Hindu maintains that both Aziz and Khurshid agreed on implementing measures to ensure peace and tranquillity on the Line of Control (LoC). Further that Sartaj Aziz mentioned the appointment of a new public prosecutor for the trial of seven men accused of training and guiding the Mumbai attackers. Still further that an eight member Pakistan panel of lawyers would visit India on September 23, less than a week before the two premiers meet in New York, to cross-examine some officials handling the Mumbai terror case. One awaits Pakistan government’s version regarding what transpired during talks between the Indian foreign minister and Nawaz Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs and national security. New Delhi has been demanding concrete progress on issues of concern to it to create ‘the right atmosphere’ before agreeing to a prime ministerial meeting. These issues include effective and speedy prosecution of those in Pakistan behind the Mumbai terror attack and action against elements involved in anti-India activities. Much will depend on whether the visit by Pakistan’s panel of lawyers proves really helpful in collecting evidence that can prove the guilt of those accused in Pakistan of involvement in Mumbai terror attacks in an independent court.
