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India-Pakistan Peace Process Important for South Asia

Panna Lal Chowdhury - 5/2/2005

The year of 2005 started with unexpected events for the region of South Asia. Massive natural disaster Tsunami affected Sri Lanka, Maldives and part of South India before five days of the starting of the new near. Devastating waves of Tsunami crushing life and property over the costal areas of Indian Ocean, was the grim scenario on the first day of the year. Next it was the political development in Nepal. The Nepalese King Gyanendra dismissed the Prime Minister and his cabinet and also dissolved the parliament on 1 February 2005. Indeed it was a Palace coup. The monarch accused that the ruling cabinet seriously failed to tackle the growing tide of Maoist upsurge which was turning more and more violent. The Maoist upsurge in Nepal started since last nine years. But with the passing of time the campaign is gaining momentum and turning violent as the poor rural people there joining the group. The violent Maoist insurgency in the Himalayan Kingdom has left over 11,000 dead in the last decade Democratic environment in Nepal suffered a serious set back as the monarch imposed emergency rules in February. Important political leaders and Human rights activists were put under detention. News Medias brought under sever government control. Violation of Human rights in various forms continued with the tightening of undue government control on democratic institutions and social environment. All these actions by the monarch culminated in serious protest from Nepal's neighboring country India and also from major world powers like Britain and USA. Needless to mention here that Nepal is very much dependant on these three countries for its defense and economy. All these countries postponed economic and military assistance to Nepal following the palace coup and declaration of emergency rule there.

However, during the following months there have been interactions from various sides to ease the situation in Nepal. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to Delhi in March confirmed again US support for various initiatives for restoration of democracy in Nepal. The British government has expressed similar views on a number of occasions. On April 22, Indian Prime minister Dr Singh met the Nepal monarch at Jakarta, Indonesia over the sidelines of Asia Africa Conference. He reiterated that the monarch must resume dialogue with political parties and restore multi-party democracy soon. India maintains that the Nepalese government will be empowered to take on the violent Maoist insurgency, only through dialogues and the lifting of February 1 emergency law. Meanwhile, in an interview, King Gyanendra has said he will lift the emergency in due course. He said Singh has assured him that India will resume military assistance to Nepal, which was suspended after the emergency.

Another important event for South Asia was the postponement of the SAARC annual summit meeting in February. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is composed of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. At first, the Summit was scheduled to be held in January this year. But since Sri Lanka, Maldives and part of South India was affected by the massive natural disaster of Tsunami it was rescheduled for February. Bangladesh was to host the Summit to be held at its capital Dhaka. All preparations were complete and the Government of Bangladesh was waiting to receive the Head of the State or Government of the six neighboring South Asian Countries. But at the very last moment Government of India announced its inability to attend the scheduled SAARC summit meeting. The reason for this, as stated by India was the unfavorable development in Nepal and also the uncertain security situation in Bangladesh. As per SAARC rule the Summit cannot be held in absence of any of its members. The postponement was unexpected for the member countries of SAARC. From its side Bangladesh finalized all preparations in time to host the conference as its Chairman for the current year. Bangladesh and few other member countries did not agree to the Indian stand about the postponement of the summit. Media reports in the seven countries of South Asia were flooded with opinions and counter opinions on the fate of the summit. On conclusion of each summit meeting the people of the region enjoy the interaction of their leaders with new plans for cooperation and development for them. But now instead of this, the situation turned hopeless. No fresh date has been agreed upon so far to convene the SAARC summit at any time during the coming months this year.

However, out of all the aforesaid unfavorable events the month of April marked with a few positive developments. It is in the trouble affected area of Jammu & Kashmir. The agreed plan to operate bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad linking the people of Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir was implemented. In spite of threats from terrorists' outfits, the bus service started safely. It is a historic event for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. It has opened the window of interaction for the Kashmiri people from both sides of Line of Control, after a lapse of around 60 years. The people of Kashmir on both the sides is in a festive mood to avail this opportunity to meet their friends and relations staying on the other side. Both the governments of India and Pakistan took utmost care and security precautions to provide this facility needed for the people of Jammu & Kashmir. With the regular transport of people to and from both the sides, trade and commerce may also follow the route adding new hope for the region.

Further, India and Pakistan is important cricket plying country. During March April this year Pakistan cricket team visited India as Indian team played in Pakistan last year. Millions of cricket fans in all the countries of South Asia and outside enjoyed these cricket matches through television. On the concluding day of this cricket schedule, Pakistan President Parvez Musharraff visited New Delhi to watch this match.

On his arrival Musharraf said he was there with a "message of peace from Pakistan", which he confirmed with a "prayer for peace" at the tomb of Sufi holy man in the Rajasthan city of Ajmer.

As per agreed program with the Indian government during his three day stay in New Delhi there was extensive discussions on Kashmir and other bilateral issues. The meetings and the visit as a whole was marked by goodwill and understanding of mutual position with vocal emphasis on the need for peace in the subcontinent.

Each of the two countries holds part of Kashmir. But their claims and counter claims for the region has remained unsettled, at times with lot of tension. Since independence from Britain in 1947, they have fought two of their three wars over this Himalayan region. Indeed Kashmir remains the unfortunate and unfinished chapter of the partition of India. It has already cost a lot in terms of arms, money and human life.

On conclusion of the meeting the statement issued by both India and Pakistan said the two countries had agreed to increase the frequency of a bus service between Srinagar in Indian Kashmir and Muzaffarabad in the Pakistani zone, and to allow trucks on the route to promote trade.

They also announced that new bus services would start between Poonch in southern Indian Kashmir and Rawalakot, across the international border in Pakistan. More contact between families separated by the militarized ceasefire line in Kashmir, known as the Line of Control, would also be promoted, the statement said.

"The two leaders had substantive talks on all issues. They determined that the peace process was now irreversible," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said this, reading from a joint statement. The Pakistani leader told newspaper editors in New Delhi earlier that progress in the talks had exceeded expectations but he cautioned that Kashmir remained a flashpoint. Ruling out a military option, he warned, "Unless we resolve the dispute it can erupt again in a future time under a different leadership."

Prime Minister Singh declared that India was committed to peace and friendship with Pakistan. He also said that while redrawing of boundaries was not possible, greater traffic of people and trade across the Line of Control would create an atmosphere of mutual trust between the two countries. He said Musharraf and he agreed to continue the discussions in a "sincere, purposeful and forward-looking" manner. "We have agreed to work together to carry forward the process and to bring the benefit of peace to people of our two countries and, in particular, the people of Jammu and Kashmir".

In a significant coming together, they declared that they would work towards a "soft border" in Kashmir, opening meeting points for divided families and boosting trade and travel across the frontier.

Analysts said the focus on building trust, softening the border and improving the lives of ordinary Kashmiris marked a major departure from the past, when the two sides have been at loggerheads over Kashmir.

Asked for his opinion on Gen. Musharraf's call for soft borders in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Singh said he himself had been saying that India and Pakistan have to look at the Kashmir problem in a "different perspective." He said: "Territorial disputes are never easy to resolve overnight. They take time. But there is a lot we can do together, focusing on the interests of the people, creating an environment where the people of Jammu and Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control can lead a life of dignity and self-respect. And we can create an environment of freer trade, freer movement."

In saying that a soft border would help India and Pakistan move towards a final settlement of the Kashmir dispute - rather than representing a final settlement by itself - Dr. Singh would appear to have opened the door to alternatives which satisfy both the Pakistani position that the LoC cannot be made permanent and the Indian position that the line cannot be redrawn.

Musharraf's unambiguous remarks that he would not allow terrorist acts to "impede" the peace process - also a part of the joint statement - have helped to create confidence in the Indian establishment about Pakistan's intentions.

Singh said he was "very pleased" with the outcome of his talks with Musharraf. "I have a sincere desire to work with President Musharraf and carry forward the peace process in the months ahead."

"In this spirit the two leaders addressed the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed to continue these discussions in a sincere and purposeful and forward looking manner for a final settlement," the statement said.

Musharraf, said the trip achieved more than he expected because of the "very flexible" approach shown by both sides. "The decisions that have been taken by both sides cannot be allowed to be disrupted by anyone ... this peace process has to be carried forward to its ultimate conclusion," Musharraf said.

The latest peace effort startng with a ceasefire along the Line of Control is in place since November 2003. It was followed by a visit by the previous Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee in January 2004 to Pakistan where the two sides agreed on a formula that called for an end to militancy in Kashmir and talks on the divided state. Indeed one should not forget that Vajpayee initiated the current peace process on Kashmir commencing from 2003. For this historic initiative, he deserves lot of appreciation and thanks from all. The peace process now continued by Singh's Congress Party-led coalition government which was elected in May 2004. Musharraf 's Visit to New Delhi this month and his personal initiative has further accelerated this peace process. His contribution for this peace process is also remarkable.

Residents of Kashmir are now hopeful that a less troubled future may follow after India and Pakistan talked of an irreversible peace process and agreed to open up the frontier dividing the region.

The dispute between India and Pakistan over the status of Jammu and Kashmir is perhaps one of the costliest disputes facing the world today. It is not only the cost of two wars already fought by them. But also the expenses for regular buildup of sophisticated arms inventory from both the sides. As reflected in their respective annual defense budget it involves massive outlay of funds for these arms buildup. If all these funds were invested for the economic development programs, how unique the situation would have been for the people of both the countries. Fiscal deficit, which is excess of national expenditure over the revenue income is a continuous problem for the countries like India and Pakistan. Peace in the region could contribute to eliminate this problem to a great extent.

Over the last fifteen years, the people of Jammu & Kashmir suffered a lot in terms of life and property. There are stories of sufferings either in the hands of security forces or due to attacks from militant groups. These are really heart breaking. It is time to find out feasible ways and means to eliminate their sufferings and also to create a congenial and peaceful environment for the region.

The current peace process started since 2003 are now encouraged and enhanced by the forward looking and matured leadership in both the countries. It may not be possible to resolve the dispute within a short period. But the initiative for peace and the peace process itself would create an environment of trust and cooperation, stop blood shed and also the suffering of the common people. When a tension free environment is created for the people of the region, they may enjoy a greater degree of freedom.

Further, once the India Pakistan dispute is settled, the two countries may live as friendly neighbors like America and Canada. Moreover, with such a regional environment, bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the various countries of South Asia will also take a positive turn leading to further progress and development. Because interactions and cooperation in the region are at times overshadowed by the tensions generated out of India Pakistan dispute. As such, the present peace process is important not only for India and Pakistan but also for South Asia as a whole. It is impressive to see that major world powers and all the countries of the region have their support for this historic peace initiative. Let there be a success to eliminate the arms race and to ensure peace and progress for the region.