JEDDAH/RIYADH, 18 July — “I told you so” was the general remark from members of the expatriate community over the way the India-Pak summit ended without a declaration in the Indian city of Agra on Monday night. “We knew that the summit would fail to produce any tangible result.”
While Pakistanis and Indians in the community blamed each other’s leadership for failing to reach an agreement or sign a declaration at the summit, others said the very fact that the two countries met at the highest level was in itself a positive outcome. “How could you have expected an overnight settlement of the Kashmir issue which has lingered on for 54 years,” a Western business executive asked.
S. M. Arshad, a Pakistani marketing manager said President Musharraf had taken a bold step to begin with. He is being absolutely straightforward and unambiguous in his approach and, as we all realize, the problem is half a century old and leaders will not find it easy to solve. But they have no option except to talk.
Aleem Siddiqui, an Indian poet said the Kashmir issue is a hard nut to crack. President Musharraf should have come forward with a solution. In fairness India did well in inviting him and its leaders tried their best to break the ice.
Shahid Haider, a Pakistani advertising executive said he was not disappointed because the parties concerned appeared sincere in their desire for peace. President Musharraf, who demonstrated his charismatic personality, is right to say that Kashmir is the core issue and every other issue more or less, directly or indirectly, relates to Kashmir. So it has to be addressed in an amicable manner. The Indian hospitality, security and media coverage were praiseworthy. Winning or losing some points in a dispute like this is natural, he added.
Naheed Siddqui, an Indian housewife said, “I am very much disappointed at the outcome, but the heartening aspect is that the dialogue process has begun.
Zahyr Siddiqi, an Indian architect said it was very unfortunate that after creating a base for improving bilateral relations, the talks went out of control. The initiative taken at the summit should be followed up in restoring peace to the region.
Indian and Pakistani expatriates in Riyadh expressed disappointment over the failure of the summit. They blamed extremists on both sides for creating a last-minute hitch that led to the fiasco.
However, according to Shaikh Muhammad Iqbal, F&B manager of Riyadh Palace Hotel and a native of the Indian part of Kashmir, the summit cannot be described as a failure, since both sides have agreed to hold a meeting in New York in September. He said there should have been a joint statement spelling out the respective positions of the two countries after all the smooth sailing that preceded the summit. Dr. P.V.S. Namboodiripad, Senior Business Development Manager, at the Al-Rajhi International Contracting, felt that the Agra summit could not be described a total failure, since they have agreed to keep up the dialogue.
Shaikh Abdul Haq, a Pakistani computer engineer, said the failure of the summit was a foregone conclusion.
