No common man knows, what is cooking behind the doors to indicate the pace at which the Indo- Pak conflict resolution, especially the core Kashmir one. May be there is international prodding for good help. Saudi king is going to India as a chief guest in India’s national function with Kashmir card to play as well and there are some reports of American and British good faith meddling as well.

But the report of Indian government rejection of self-governance proposal by Pakistan for Kashmir the same day when Indian people had evenly split 50-50 consensus in support in Hindustan times put a serious eclipse at least for the media and the public. At the same time, India is trying to amass as many bargaining chips as possible. The only country indicated by India for show down in statements is always unfortunately a small neighbour Pakistan.

Pakistan will have to amass its own bargaining chips, even if it is a small country, to keep the process of conflict resolution alive and well. Support of Kashmiri people is the biggest bargaining chip for moral and just reasons. Pakistan must consider other bargaining chips as such:

Pakistan’s relations are excellent with China and America and should keep on efforts to maintain and further improve them. Keep the thaw in relations with India with peace as conduit. Keep the Islamic cards above all. Saudi Arabia and Turkey have much the same in common like Pakistan.

The road to real energy supplies to India goes through Pakistan. Pretty soon, the world is going to find out that there is no or very little spare oil available out of consumption by America, Europe and China. An increase of only 2 million bpd refining capacity (from global consumption of 82 million barrels per day refining capacity) by China in the past 2 years shot the world price of oil from 25 US$ per barrel to over 70 US$ per barrel. Only a breathing pause by China in oil consumption now has brought the oil price little bit lower.

Natural gas reserves located closer to us are God’s gift and Pakistan is that natural conduit of gas passage to India from Iran and Central Asia. The road to Central Asia goes through Pakistan. Any other Indo-Russian attempted route will be ten times the distance and a mix of sea and truck transports riddled with up hill and uncertain terrains of Iran and Afghanistan. Central Asia itself has not defined its alignment as yet. Turkmenistan has very strong Turkish blood related loyalty with Turkey and can block off Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan most of whom, except Tajikistan, have Turkish blood and loyalties for thousands of years. Turkmenistan has stayed away from even Shanghai accord. Prodded by Turkey, America can still enter Central Asia to play the key role there with Turkmenistan being the doorstep.

Pakistan should seriously work on joining Turkey in exploring road to Central Asia by giving Turkey footing through Pakistan as Turkey itself is blocked from its kin Turkish nations of Central Asia by a small country Armenia falling on its way to C.A.

We must admire the foreign policy of Pakistan and should keep it up for bargaining chips.

Anwar Mahmood
Alberta, Canada

One can say that both countries are trying to move towards resolution of the issues as per their strategy, which can be like a rail track never converging.

Ozair Mustafa
UAE

Relations between the two rivals are a bit thawed, but not easy to say that they are going towards the solution of core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. It might happen, no one can say for sure, as in politics anything can happen and finally a solution found.

Trade is improved and so are the relations between the people and atmosphere better than before the start of peace process. Armies are still face-to-face but not with bad intentions or any plan to attack on each other’s soil.

Let us have a hope that the two countries do resolve their all-outstanding issues and give a sigh of relief to the public, as they have always been on the receiving end. Politicians and top brass never lost anything in all these years; it is the poor people who suffered a lot. Better to keep fingers crossed.

Mohammad Akram
London, England

As long as we are automatically supporting any team of the world who is playing India and vice-a- versa, the two nations can never come close to each other, despite of being neighbours.   

I have no hope for the resolution of any sort of issues with India in near and long future.

Mohammed Faheem
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Indians are dragging their feet as much as is possible within the given atmosphere, characterized by international pressure on India. Since the pressure is minimal, Indians have a greater room to maneuver. Apparently the world at large has little or no interest in this issue, as there appears to be no material benefit for any one in store from such a peace process.

However, the world will have to recognize the fact that the two nuclear neighbors can easily make a mess of it, if the situation is allowed to spiral out of control even though gradually. On the other hand, Indians have to realize that the only way they can benefit from their so-called economic prosperity is to cool down simmering tendency of the oppressed to take to arms; that they have in abundance.

A peacefully cooperating Pakistan will add to their international stature and internal harmony. The immediate results of CBMs clearly demonstrate that no matter what we do on all other issues, Kashmir will have to be addressed once for all for real progress towards good relations.

Having said that let me also say that we in Pakistan need to have a bit of self-confidence and trust our leaders. Their approach may appear to be slow but is sure to keep national interests supreme. No sell offs would ever be acceptable to Pakistani nation and that the leaders know too well.

Yet unnecessary haste could eventually lead to slowing down the peace process, as has it been proven by our past history. Resorting to threats and language of force has never paved the way for peace. Steadfastness, self-confidence and trusting our leaders with their responsibilities will lead us to success.

Zainab Hidayat
Lahore, Pakistan


The topic of gradual resolution of India Pakistan issues being debated in Jang is getting more to the hearts of the people as it affects us Pakistanis more than the Indians. The general mood of peace in South Asia makes these issues less explosive, but at the same time the slow or no pace forward puts constrictions and constraints on opening up the useful economic dealings between the two neighbours.

It seems that India appears to be spoiled by every big power except China and the fact makes India even ignore the realities, let alone its own promises of the past. Then her own zeal to be a major power with rude awakening trumpeted by the master military might of the world may have caused the real deign to honour the past promises of five decades to a small neighbour Pakistan, who never really was an enemy. Pakistan had only demanded to take over its rights given to it by Kashmiri people and acknowledged by the UN for a happy fusion of the two loving people, who wanted to be one. Instead her big neighbour unnecessarily targeted Pakistan as their proclaimed enemy.

India’s refusal to accept self-governance of Kashmir is a shock for most. Pakistan’s only fault is that she is trying to extract rights out of a big country seven times in populace and three times in area. Pakistan has more bargaining chips and the biggest chip is the Kashmiri people themselves, who have given 100,000 lives to get their message through. Even a group of Kashmiri pundits once said that Kashmir is already Pakistan, as the vast majority there feel that way. That is why a promised plebiscite has never been held.

Pakistan’s second bargaining chip is its future usefulness to India as energy corridor. Oil is becoming more of a scarce commodity being chased by all. The world simply does not have the oil to create one or two more Americas as energy guzzlers. Power, including nuclear energy is about 10-15 percent of energy equation. Natural gas equally competes oil and carries even more weight closer to the resources as its transport is pipeline specific. Pakistan is that natural conduit of gas from Iran, Qatar and Central Asia to India. LNG, because of super cold cryogenic process of minus 161 degrees C, forms mere less than 2 percent of gas market worldwide.

Pakistan’s third bargaining chip is that even with its small size, it is not weak and not susceptible of being over run by any nation. Only fools will call a nation as a failing state when its currency has been stable against dollar for the past six years.

Pakistan is supposed to possess the best and the most peaceful nuclear deterrent in the region. Pakistan appears to have a very healthy and balanced foreign policy of befriending all nations and its future course may become totally devoid of being embroiled into the dangerous divide to grab the energy resource of the world. It stands very good chance of not reaping the wrath reward destined for the un-satiable greed of the few mighty or would be mighty nations.

Kashmir problem, like few in history, may linger on. But truth and justice will prevail in the end.

Anwar Mahmood
Alberta, Canada

You must be joking!

S. A. Choudhary
Pakistan

No. Kashmir dispute can’t be decided. We can only make Kashmir free from India only by weakening it. We, with the help of Kashmiris should attack Indian economy in the same way India attacked our economy in East Pakistan. Nothing else. 

Rana Qadeer
Pakistan

Well, I wish both the countries all the best to the peace ride. But there is lot more to see, as little have been done.

Zulfiqar Syed
Bern, Switzerland

What Khalid Khan from Pakistan wrote is exact truth. We are so low that we copy movies from Bolly Wood, which in turn copy these movies from Hollywood. When India named their Industry Bolly Wood after Hollywood, we cheaply followed with Lolly Wood.

Indians in the US do not go to Pakistani movies, restaurants, grocery stores and concerts or sell Pakistani products in their stores. On the contrary, Pakistanis do all that for Indians. Chief Minister of Punjab guests proudly every other day Sikh delegations and will die to do the same for the Hindus. These are the plain and ignorant people of Pakistan who do not understand the mind of Brahmins. 

If something is cooking up behind the close-doors to resolve Kashmir issue, then it will remain behind doors until Indians start visiting Pakistani restaurants, shops, concerts and so on.

Mumtaz Baig
USA

At one time, Jinnah the founder of Pakistan was member of the Congress Party. He worked for Hindu-Muslim understanding and unity. Jinnah found it so disturbing that whatever Congress Party did the end beneficiary were Hindus. Jinnah left Congress disappointed and he said Hindu mindset was not changeable regarding Muslims of sub-continent.

We have seen this truth before 1947 and since 1947 up till now. Time and time again, we have seen that Hindu leaders do not miss a single opportunity of joining anti-Muslim forces rightly or wrongly.

India does not have any intention to resolve Kashmir issue. As a matter of fact, India is constructing dams on the rivers, which are lifelines for Pakistan. Thus India's intention is to cripple Pakistan economically. For God sake, why don’t you understand India's chess game?

Saleem Sayed
Toronto, Canada

We Pakistanis are living in fools paradise created by the media. Nothing will change Indian mentality even Pakistanis start worshiping like Indian, act like Indian, think like Indian, dress like Indian and start keeping and worshiping Getta in their homes.

We can only solve our issues with India, if we become a strong Pakistani nation economically, morally, culturally and militarily. We must not act like a failed nation.

Khalid Khan
Pakistan

I think so. As the whole world is changing and, therefore, it is in the interest of Pakistan and India to realize the potential danger they have because of population and poverty. It will be wise on part of both the parties to spend more on development of their people and countries and do everything possible to reduce the sufferings of Kashmiris.

Tariq Khan
Dubai, UAE

About Pakistan and India, I think, if they seriously think, take a serious step on Kashmir and other problems, they will nurture good friendship and also find solution, but both parties are thinking only for self, they don't think for other people.

Asadullah Memon
Dubai

Buying time, India fooling around Pakistan.

Abdul Nasir Mughal
Abu Dhabi

No, not at all, India would never like to resolve Kashmir issue at the cost of losing it to either Pakistan or even see it as independent state. The current CBMs prove nothing more than eyewash.

Her intentions were obvious in her recent offer in the guise of help through helicopters, but when Pakistan did not allow Indian pilots, the same was withdrawn.

India has always tried to gain time and we have been watching this for the last 57/58 years.

S. Khaleeq Ahmad
Karachi, Pakistan

That’s bigger joke I heard.

Sajjad Tulsa
Oklahoma, USA

It’s all fake. Americans, local rulers, politicians, armies and infidels on both sides do not want solution of Kashmir and other issues as well. Whatever happening is purposely to keep people confused. There is no solution without war.

Ali Raza
Pakistan 

No sir, they are making fool to the pubic of both the countries.

Hmad Khan Malik
Pakistan

Let the Kashmiris decide what they want. Both India and Pakistan should get out from this difficult situation.

Basith Syed
Canada

It goes without saying that the core issue between Pakistan and India is Kashmir. Unless it is solved with the consent of all three parties i.e. Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir nothing will settle between both the countries. It may be a fact that both the countries have advanced a bit but burning issue remains the same and it can aggravate the situation again sometime in the future.

To have a permanent and long lasting relationship and advancement in all issues between both the countries, it is necessary that bone of contention between both the countries be resolved i.e. Kashmir Issue.

To improve the situation it would be fruitful if delegations between both the counties kept exchanging in all walks of life. Both the counties will benefit, if there is peace between them. 

Muqtedir Akhtar
UK

I don’t think India and Pakistan heading towards any kind of progress in establishing peace in region or doing an inch progress towards core issue of Kashmir, nor India is interested in doing so, India is only interested in trade with Pakistan and to gain MFN status from Pakistan besides resuming and agreeing for train.

Bus route via various border is just part of trade, so in future India can do and attract Pakistan to make more attraction in doing business through these routes and to prove to Pakistan that doing business with India is more economical and beneficial to both countries, leaving aside old issue of Kashmir and sure India will be more beneficial in doing business with Pakistan.

At this stage, India is blaming each and every incident or terrorism activities taking place in India one end to the other end, is looking " Pakistan hand". Pakistan has nothing to do anything else but terrorism, as India thinks. Over billion populations in India all are very " Sharif and seedhey hain". In this kind of atmosphere one cannot think that relation between these two rivals will improve or become normal. And whatever little and sweet words coming from leaders of both sides, now a days, are due to some kind of "pressures " from world community and to get recognition and support from and in UN for which India is seeking permanent seat in security council.

M.H.Wadiwala
West Chicago, USA

I don’t think, they are going toward solution. I have more to tell but you restricted up to 250 words.

Jawad Younas
Sialkot, Pakistan

I must say instead of posting the issues of Pak-India conflicts, you should have focused on the issues of unemployment, extremism, lawlessness, corruption, inflation and various other draconian problems, which Pakistan and its subjects are facing.

Without resolving these core issues of Pakistani people, I don't think that we will ever be able to resolve anything with any one in the world without having a bargain power. I must say in the end that our defence elites including Musharraf is not interested in resolving these domestic problems. They are just concerned to fulfill vested interests of US, which are their fostering lords as well. And unfortunately, Pakistan is on a threshold of becoming an "official" failed state.

We can't lick to Kashmir unless we are stronger enough to uphold law and order in the remaining parts of Pakistan. God bless Pakistan!

Imran Butt
London, UK

There was a time when it was considered to be serious thing to suggest third option to be considered in the official forums of Pakistan. Perhaps today, even this is the official stance. If some analyst who is honest to the purpose of his profession, he will feel that Kashmir is not in the making like Pakistan is supporting through its claim, for the last five decades.

It is in the making by third option if at all there will be any solution. This is not acceptable to both the countries and other two options are not acceptable to Kashmiris of both sides (IHK certainly not). As president made it very candidly and convincingly clear that nothing will work, if the bone of contention is not solved or resolved and that is Kashmir issue. What all is happening today gradually will put the clock back and we will start another gradual exercise under different brand name.

Today's Kashmiri is not a Kashmir of 40s and 50s. Today's Kashmiri is educated who has come through a very hard struggle and is a force to reckon with but do you see them any where in talks. Unless they become part of the talks it does not make full quorum. Never to forget that when we talk of Kashmiris, we have in mind only Indian Kshmiris, who have given sacrifices and suffered at the hands of Indian forces, but what about participation of Pakistani Kashmiris.

So this gradual process seems to be a process of cosmetics and not reality based effort. We must not forget India is a country where national matters are handled as an institution regardless who rules and they have a policy about Kashmir, which we all know. We can hope for the best since sometime cosmetic talks also bring reality in situation.

FM Endrabi
Lahore, Pakistan

If we make an honest and unbiased analysis of Kashmir issue since 1947, we will realize that we are on square one. Although every year, both India and Pakistan, spend a lot on expenses that are directly or indirectly associated with Kashmir, not much has been achieved. We have not moved a step ahead. Every year, faces change, but talk of the same issue. Pakistan talking of rape, killings and other wrongdoings of India's in Kashmir and India talking about Pakistani terrorists infiltration in Kashmir.

What we fail to understand is that words and mere planning will never solve such a grave issue like Kashmir. It will require much more than talks, mostly unbiased and helpful action. Action and on ground steps that might hurt some people's pride both in India and Pakistan, but steps that must be taken, otherwise this issue will linger on forever. I see ray of hope in these lines of President Musharraf at the recent International donors’ conference in Islamabad.

Therefore, I take this opportunity to appeal through this forum to the governments and the peoples of Pakistan and India, Kashmir governments and people on either sides besides the media of both the countries to let us together solve Kashmir dispute once for all.

Talha Masood
Islamabad, Pakistan

No, I don't think so. These measures at diplomatic level, even if persuaded by India, are only to somehow either "live with the existing without any compromise" or to create an image of "apparent" peace (pseudo peace) to achieve its objectives in the economic and political spheres. India has not done anything to change the twisted and mutilated books, media and curriculum that present the wrong picture of Pakistan and Islam. What are we hoping out of these measures when what fuels their mind is hatred and prejudice?  

I seriously doubt the intentions of India towards Pakistan. As Pakistanis, first of all, we have failed to try to understand the purpose of creation of Pakistan, as a nation. Nothing has been done in the last 58 years to strengthen the ideology of Pakistan. Second, we have not been able to pass on to the next generation, the same. So, mingling and mixing with Indian culture (which we already have ingrained in our minds at subconscious level) and India itself, without strengthening the basis of "our ideology" in Pakistan, I am sure, we are ourselves fueling our destruction, which seems quite evident.

Sadly, and very sadly, we Pakistanis, tend to rely on self-made illusions of different economic, political and other incentives while dealing with India but we completely fail to understand the deep hidden mentality of Hindu that he will not show till the end. Quaid-i-Azam had said rightly, "Hindu is non-correctable."

Imran S Chaudhry
Ohio, USA

Yes, as long as Indo-American strategy and goals are gradually but surely implemented by Pakistan under the leadership of President Musharraf. Great credit is due to his leadership for taking tremendous strides in fully purging the armed forces of any and all religious elements and replacing them with more rational, secular and westernized-minded men who for the fist time in Indo-Pak history understand the reality of India as well as Kashmir in the proper perspective. This metamorphosis coupled with post 9/11 environments is the force behind paving way for solving all bilateral issues. Indeed, agenda, pace, timetable and progress will continue to be set forth by India.

Astonishingly, President Musharraf has done even a better job on the political, public relations and masses front. He has been successful in making his people as well as politicians swallow the bitter pill and give up the idea of wrestling Kashmir away from India or gulping it all by making it part of Pakistan.

Finally, the reality of India today with its glory is beginning to shine and sink into an average Pakistani's mind, leaving behind old clichés and stereotyping. Pakistanis more than ever before appear reconciled and willing to solve issues pretty much on terms suggested by India for the last several decades. Now, If India does not take a winner, takes it all approach and is willing to very slightly adjust here and there a resolution of all issues including Kashmir is not that far away.

Tahir Rasheed
NY, USA
 

But both countries are not clear about at which measures Kashmir issue would be solved and both of the countries leadership is hesitating to highlight the measures of solution.

So, after a long time, whenever they will openly put the matter to decide, matter would become again as before, so this is the time to get decide first the issue of Kashmir, if both sides’ leaderships are sincere to their nations, otherwise, there would be nothing more to a balloon.

Mahar Muhammad Ishaq
Pakistan

Yes, under forceful persuasion with India and frightful pressures on Pakistan, US is leading both contestants to abandon their claims on Kashmir for an independent Kashmir, under US yoke, as an extension of their global policy of domination.

The presence of 1200 US troops coupled with 1000 of NATO counterparts in the northern parts of Pakistan, suggest something is brewing, sinister and stealthy mapping of topography for its balkanization.

For India, their hold on Kashmir has been draining their vital resources, which otherwise could assure them regional power status.

The catapult of our ‘khaki’ ruler on Kashmir indexes completes bankruptcy of any sense of direction or determination and is losing Kashmir cause by default. The initial tentative rescue and relief work in Muzaffarabad has already scathed Kashmiri sensibilities.

Sham "Mujahid-e-Awwal" Sardar Qayyum has openly denigrated the freedom fighters and it is obvious, the ground is being prepared for the fifth option.

S. Nasrullah
Pakistan

Only economic crunch and democracy will force both nations to come to table.

Adil Sidiki
CA, USA
 

There is peace in the air of south Asia. The consensus today in Hindustan times was evenly split on Pakistan’s proposal for self- governance in Kashmir in both sides of the LoC. Even though this proposal is a carbon copy of what Jawaharlal Nehru had proposed to Mr. Ayub Khan around 1963 during a powerful peace diplomacy initiated from viewing of Pakistani musical, ”Intezar” by Nehru and Iskander Mirza on the sidelines of the Commonwealth conference in London in 1957. Complete and thorough autonomy were the words used in Pandit Nehru’s proposal to Mr. Ayub Khan then, instead of self-governance by Pakistan government now.

People of India have viewed their healthy and evenly contested response, which bodes well to the fact that Pakistan and India are inching towards resolving their issues amicably. If we have resolved Kashmir problem, we have solved all the issues. Pakistan is doing all it can to make solutions happen. Our foreign policy, even if it had to give some internal sacrifices to ward off the dangers knocking on our doorstep after 9/11, has put Pakistan safer and more secure internationally. When all major powers i.e. US, China, Europe and Russia endorse our multifaceted compromising stand, India also finds Pakistan very flexible, more so than India, in conflict resolution.

The world today is different from 1947 or even ten years ago. In present circumstances, it is very prudent to have Kashmir conflict resolution as the world is heading into danger soon. The sole superpower US and the rapidly rising superpower China have already defined and decided their interests on global hydrocarbon energy of oil and gas that is also located not far from us.

There is a big game of chess going on to align the big and the important. The chess game is friendly now as it involves to feel the others for now. But it is surely going to get ugly soon as the military prowess and the economic might of nations is in the process of very drastic changes. Pakistan appears to be on the right track and is even going miles further than India in the quest for peace and conflict resolution. President Musharraf has offered to India a proposal on Kashmir that is very similar to what late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had offered to Ayub Khan more than forty years ago. India will show wisdom to accept it and the rousing and popular response today in Hindustan Times is proof that the proposal was serious enough to see populace interest with very even split of 50-50. India’s prime minister and Pakistan president, please take note of that and join the peace wagon that even men like Mr. Advani has boarded as well.

Anwar Mahmood
Alberta,Canada