The three-day visit to India by Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf which began yesterday will produce no new deal between the formerly bitter rivals. It will, however, contribute substantially to the changing attitudes in both countries, not just among political leaders but among their populations as a whole.
The trip by the large Pakistan government delegation is all about confidence building and comes only nine days after the hugely symbolic reopening, despite die-hard terrorist links, of the land links across the Line of Control that divides Kashmir. New Delhi and Islamabad remain deeply at odds about the resolution of the Kashmir question but they are both now committed to a peaceful negotiated settlement. The talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf are therefore going to focus on expanding areas where both sides can already see a way of agreeing or where indeed they already concur.
What is clear to each government of course is the extent of the horizon that will open up for them both as the Kashmir issue is tackled and normalization of relations spreads. One major opportunity lies in the fillip that Indo-Pakistani friendship will give to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, of which Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka are also members. Within SAARC lie the seeds of an Asian common market which could play an immensely important role, not only in developing the seven member economies but also in creating an economic power bloc within the fast-growing economic region of Southeast Asia. Yet since its creation 20 years ago, the organization has been unable to capitalize upon its strengths because its two major players have been at loggerheads over Kashmir.
SAARC members have committed themselves to work together in “friendship, trust and understanding” and those are the elements now being encouraged by the Indian and Pakistani leaderships. Though extremists on both sides still want the newfound friendship between the two states to break down, there is little likelihood that Musharraf’s visit will end with the same bitterness and frustration that characterized his last visit to India. This time, as both sides first thoroughly explored key question at a lower level, the process can be characterized as patient and cautious. Because neither government wishes to rush into crisis, there are strong grounds for optimism. It is now recognized that the benefits of a lasting settlement will reach far beyond the long-suffering people of Kashmir. For a subcontinent at last at peace, the opportunities — politically, socially and economically — will be immense.
Today Musharraf will spend part of his day watching the final one-day match between Pakistan and India. That matches and have taken place at all, let alone in an atmosphere of such sportsmanship and enthusiasm, is proof positive that these two countries do know how to get along. Their sportsmen and sports fans have proved they can. So have their common people, artists and writers. Their politicians too must be able to prove it.
