QUICK EDIT: A good start from India and Pakistan
From the speed with which the relations between India and Pakistan have shown signs of improvement within a week, stillness of years seems to have been overcome in a short time.
Between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “casual meeting” with Nawaz Sharif at the Paris climate summit on November 30 and Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad, the two sides have made giant strides - something which was unthinkable months ago when an acrimonious showdown broke up the National Security Adviser-level dialogue.
It is now clear that the brief talk between the two PMs in Paris was not a chance encounter, but was packed with substance.
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj speaks to media with Pakistan's National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz at the foreign ministry in Islamabad
A hushed-up meeting between the National Security Advisors and foreign secretaries in Bangkok was followed by Swaraj’s visit to Islamabad.
The two sides have given themselves time till September 2016, when Modi will travel to Pakistan, to take the ties to a new level, overcoming the legacy baggage.
The joint statement, released at the end of Swaraj’s meeting with Sartaj Aziz, Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs, has revived the prospect of the composite dialogue.
The two sides have given concessions to each other in the joint statement and avoided issues that leave scope for misinterpretations.
India’s concern on terrorism is reflected in the joint communiqué with Pakistan, assuring early conclusion of the Mumbai attack trial.
New Delhi, on its part, has agreed to bring all issues on the negotiating table, including Jammu & Kashmir.
The issues include Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar Barrage/ Tulbul Navigation Project and Economic and Commercial Cooperation. Much progress has been made on each of these issues and it now remains to be seen how far the Modi government is willing to walk.
After coming close to a solution on the Siachen issue, the negotiations have literally frozen as the Indian military establishment has underlined the futility of a give-away in wake of activities of China in the Pakistan- Occupied Kashmir.
There are similar complications with other issues as well. The foreign secretaries have a task cut out for them to bring the ties back on track.
