News analysis: Pakistan, Indian take steps towards revival of dialogue process

Pakistan and India have wrapped up high level diplomatic talks in Islamabad on a positive note as both sides have agreed to narrow down differences and ensure peace and tranquillity on the border.

Although the visit of Subramanyam Jaishankar to Islamabad on March 3 was part of his visit to the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, the two uneasy neighbors used the opportunity to discuss a wide range of bilateral matters, including issues seen as major irritants to normal relations.

There was no breakthrough in the talks, however, the visit of the Indian diplomat was itself very important for both countries to break a month of deadlocked talks. India canceled the top diplomatic-level dialogue in August because of the meeting between the Pakistani high commissioner and the Kashmiri separatist leaders in New Delhi.

Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart, Aizaz Chaudhry, came up with the unanimous approach that their talks would be held in a "cordial and constructive atmosphere." One positive aspect was that both stressed the "importance of maintaining dialogue" to address each other's concerns and to find out a peaceful solution to their disputes.

The escalation of conflict near the Line of Control, the disputed Kashmir region's de facto border, is one of the major causes of tensions and was on top of the agenda. Both sides called for calm and said they are committed to the much publicized 2003 ceasefire along the border.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif used his meeting with the visiting Indian diplomat to stress the importance of "peace and tranquillity" on the LoC as well as the Working Boundary, the international border. He also said the "existing military-to- military mechanisms must be used optimally to check ceasefire violations."

Both countries are predominantly in favor of having good neighborly relations and the onus is on now of the leadership to respect their people's aspirations. The South Asian region has suffered enormously due to tensions and unresolved disputes, despite being blessed with enormous resources. It is widely believed that tensions between Pakistan and India have also badly affected the regional SAARC grouping.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's quest for a peaceful neighborhood in South Asia is producing results as the visit of the Indian official has raised hopes for the revival of the Composite Dialogue process that had been suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks. India had accused "Lashkar-e-Tayyeba" for planning the attacks, who India claims had been working from Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made the wise decision to speak to Nawaz Sharif by phone last month to announce that he would send his senior diplomat to Pakistan that was welcomed by friendly countries. Indian had likened the Modi call to the traditional Cricket Diplomacy as he had also wished best wishes for the Pakistani cricket team in their World Cup matches in Australia and New Zealand.

The Cricket Diplomacy is not new between the two countries as it has been used in the past to reduce tensions. The diplomacy was introduced in 1987 as then Pakistani president Zia-ul Haq made a surprising visit to India to watch a cricket game that had helped defuse tensions. Another military President Pervez Musharraf traveled to India in 2005 apparently for a cricket match.

The Mumbai attacks had badly hit bilateral relations but the Cricket Diplomacy worked to some extent when the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh welcomed his then Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Raza Gilani to join him to watch the match in the Indian city of Mohali.

Gilani had positively responded and accepted the offer. Whether it is Modi's Cricket Diplomacy, backdoor channels or persuasion by friendly countries, it is in the interest of both countries to bury the hatchet as a continuation of the standoff would divert resources from providing welfare for both country's people. Endi