Pak signals good, but more needed
Much that points to the evolving of a reasonably sane, and dare one say somewhat productive, relationship between India and Pakistan has been the main feature of this year.
This is a marked contrast with what we have grown accustomed to. Naturally, there is a sense of relief on both sides that bitterness and acrimony have been missing in bilateral ties throughout this year. And yet, we can’t help but feel that promise more than action, may be a kind of hopeful watchfulness, has been the main motif.
Even this is to be welcomed, considering we are seeking to emerge from the abyss of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari arrived suddenly last March, full of bonhomie and goodwill, and promising to give India-Pakistan relations a positive profile. This approach was welcomed widely in this country, for people on both sides are tired of the Cold War paradigm, whatever the likes of Hafiz Saeed may seek to provoke ordinary folk into believing.
The overt urging on Mr Zardari’s part was for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan in the course of the year, to make a trip of nostalgia to his village of Gah near Islamabad on the occasion of Gurupurab, the birthday of Guru Nanak, which falls in the current season. Dr Singh has been unable to rise to Mr Zardari’s expectations in this regard. And this is for good reasons.
So long as Pakistan does not take overt punitive action against those who plotted and executed the Mumbai attacks, it will be hard for any Indian leader to visit Pakistan. There have been positive small steps visible in Pakistan of late. That is a good sign. A police official reported to the court hearing the Mumbai attack case that several senior Lashkar-e-Tayyaba figures named by India were indeed involved. For four long years this has not been acknowledged. India now expects Pakistan to amend its laws so that it may become possible to take the voice samples of an accused without his permission. This is said to be an obstacle in Pakistan sending voice samples of the 26/11 masterminds to the Indian authorities.
Other than the 26/11 impediment, the “most favoured nation” status for India on the trade side is also yet to accrue, though the process of preparation has been pursued. Suddenly a parliamentary committee in Pakistan appears to be raising questions. Perhaps the problem is not insurmountable, but we are not there yet. The Indian PM may be expected to visit only when we have something in the bag on the brazen 26/11 attack. It will also help if there are proper assurances on the issue of trade, hopefully incorporating common India-Pakistan-Afghanistan interests.
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