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| Pillai-Zaman talks end on a positive note | | | If anything spectacular has emerged from the two-day t alks between the G.K.Pillai and Qamar Zaman,Home secretaries of India an Pakistan,it is Pakistan's "yes" on allowing an Indian commission to visit Islamabad in connection with the Mumbai terror attack probe.For several months Islamabad refused to concede this demand.Now that it has accepted this demand it indicates that Pakistan has slightly calmed down and has decided to be more pragmatic than it has been hitherto.But at the sametime one is not sure of any decision Islamabad takes.If the Pakistan side has agreed to India's dmand for allowing a commission to visit Islamabad in connection with the Mumbai terror attack it could be a calculated move to smoothen the pitch for Manmohan Singh-Gilani talks.Whatever may have been the compulsions on the part of Islamabad one thing seems to be clear.The establishment in Islamabad has stnarted showing eagerness for keeping the channels of dialogue open.It is
in this connection that during Pillai-Zaman talks the t wo sides agreed that the two Home secretaries would be meeting after every six months.This is quite important because the two sides will get an opportunity to resolve irritants that threaten to strain the relations between the two sides.
But this not sufficient.There is need for diversifying the process of dialogue.Let it be between foreign secretaries,between those heading the Departments of Industry,agriculture,tourism,trade and other sectors.Once such talks take place the veil of mistrust between the two sides may vanish like dew drops with the first rays of the sun.Well one thing is certain.Whether the process of dialogue is held at different levels it may take a long time for the chasm to get bridhed or narrowed.One cannot expect meeting like th one that was held in New Delhi between G.K.Pillai and Qamar Zaman to settle all the bilateral issues.It has to be a gradual process,a step by st ep process which can be result oriented insrtead of jumping to a fall in a ravine.Another important issue that has been debated by Pillai and Zaman is the drug and human trafficking.Over the years it has been seen that transborder smugglers have been smuggling hashish and poppy from
Afghanistan and Afghan-Pak border areas into the Indian territory and the money earned from this trade is being diverted for sustaining the ongoing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.Part of this very money is being sent to the separatists and their supporters for keeping the cauldron of violence boliling in Jammu and Kashmir.
The two sides have decided to easen the process of issuing visas,especially in case of journalists,senior citizens and patients wishing to travel to India for undergoing surgeries.It has been seen that a large number of patients from Pakistan,including those whose condition was serious and required major surgeries,have been treated in different hospitals in India successfully.Whatever may be the purpose the basic issue should be to make travel between the two sides a hassle free exercise.Increased people to people contact could also lessen the level of tension and mistrust between the two sides.It is in this context that political leaders belonging to the National Conference and the PDP have been demanding opening of more border points for facilitating trade and travel between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan occupied Kashmir.Over the years the Government agencies in Pakistan have spread some canards that freedom of religion has been denied to
the muslims in Jammu and Kashmir and mosques and other muslim shrines had ben demolished in the state.Even a major section of militants,including foreign mercenaries,who had crossed into Jammu an Kashmir had one mission to destroy the Government that had muzzled religious freedom.But these mercenaies were surprised to see all mosques and shrines intact and muslims in Jammu and Kashmir enjoying more religious freedom than the people in Pakistan and occupied Kashmir.This way people to people contact needs to be promoted and the process of dialogue between the two sides needs to be made a regular affair.
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