Nilacharal

President Musharraf ! Hearty Welcome!

One of the most important high level summits between the premier of our country and the apex executive of our most important neighbour is going to be on 15th July 2001 in Agra, at the back drop of the one of the important historical monument Taj Mahal. India is bracing to welcome the President of Pakistan, Mr Musharraf. Taj Mahal is the embodiment of love and affection between a husband and wife. The place of summit assumes significance because of what this historical monument in Agra stands for in a human life. Our friend Musharraf proclaimed that God saved him from the clutches of death five times till now. He must understand that Allah saved him, as HE wants him to be instrumental in saving lives on both the sides of the border. This author along with the Nilacharal team extends a hearty welcome to the President of Pakistan to the Agra summit.

Home Work Done

The mood in India is optimistic and kudos to the Prime Minister Vajpayee for taking all the opposition parties into confidence. He has consulted the former Prime Ministers in an effort to learn lessons and take cues from their previous summits with Pakistan Executives. Sonia deserves a pat for exuding optimism, not yielding to political compulsions. However, if one has to go by the press reports, Pakistan President does not enjoy such a support or consensus from his Army or from his political opponents. Rather, he has been cautioned and constrained by many conditions. There is also an apprehension that Musharraf agreed for this bilateral discussion only under the dictum of the White House and he is striving hard to get the international recognition for his position as the Premier Executive of Pakistan. He has been shifting his stands, be it with respect to meeting the Hurriyat leaders or with respect to the obsession with Kashmir issue. However, it is heartening to note that people from both sides consider this forthcoming visit of Musharraf to India between 14th and 16th July 2001 as the new ray of hope for reducing tension and bringing in peace in this sub-continent. They eagerly look forward to the positive outcome. It is good to note that both the sides have fallback options in an eventuality of this summit ending in a stalemate. It should be kept in mind that bilateral negotiations are the only way out and anything can be resolved if we have the patience, perseverance, tolerance, determination, mutual respect, and above all the hope and confidence. Both Vajpayee and Musharaff would meet twice before the end of this year - in United Nations General assembly in New York and in the proposed SAARC summit in Kathmandu and they must continue the discussions even if the Agra summit fails.

Pragmatism is the Need of the Hour

All the issues can not be thrashed out in this meet and hence it is important that both sides should not be over enthusiastic. Otherwise it would lead to disappointments and the doors for further bilateral negotiations would be closed once again. It would be pragmatic to celebrate the summit as successful if both the executives manage to "maintain and strengthen the good will" at the end of this summit.

Quid Pro Quo

Pakistan must recognize a fact that it can not project itself as a West Asian country. If it tries hard to do so, it would end up in an identity crisis. Also, Pakistan should not insist on meeting the APHC (All Party Hurriyat Conference). Mutual trust at the Governments level is the pre-requisite for any multilateral discussions. Pakistan should recognize that it is mutually beneficial to work together (with India).

Prime Minister Vajpayee had already announced few good will gestures to Pakistan such as admission for Pakistani students in Indian Institutes. As a quid pro quo, Pakistan should co-operate for the over-land gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan. It would help Pakistan also. As a quid pro quo India can agree to talk about Kashmir. By not talking about Kashmir, we are not going to solve the problem that we face in Kashmir. ....more