Goodbye hatred
For the first time in the 50 years of Indo-Pak hostilities, India has agreed to bring Kashmir to the discussion table.
Till now, India had refused to discuss the controversial issue holding that Kashmir was an integral part of the country. However, Monday's announcement does not imply that India is willing to compromise on the issue. ''We have not softened our stand on the border state,'' said Indian foreign secretary Salman Haider, who led the three-day discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Shamshad Ahmad.
The concession was the result of the just-concluded second round of secretary-level talks (initiated in March in New Delhi) in Islamabad. Kashmir will be taken up
in the third and final round, scheduled for September in New Delhi.
Ahmad, though satisfied with the progress of the talks, said he expected the road ahead to be rough. "We have no illusions about the complexities that lie ahead," he said. "But
we'll continue the dialogue in all sincerity.''
Besides the Kashmir dispute, the Delhi round will feature other issues like the military standoff
at Siachen glacier, terrorism and drug trafficking.
Ahmad and Haider said they had successfully completed the first stage of the task given by their prime ministers -- namely, laying down a mechanism for promoting harmonious relations.
Both agreed the average Indian and Pakistani wanted peace, and are planning to initiate confidence-building measures immediately. They agreed to halt all ''hostile propaganda and provocative actions''.
Eight issues for discussion -- covering politics, economics and administration -- have been identified. Working groups would be set up at appropriate levels to address these matters in an integrated manner.
''No deadline has been set for the working groups. The modalities are to be determined,'' Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Khalid Salim said.
As a goodwill gesture, the two countries have agreed to release nearly 400 fishermen being held for illegal fishing.
UNI
|
