The Daily Times Editorial dated June 20, 2008.

http//dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\06\20\story_20-6-2008_pg3_1

My reply published by The Daily Times Today(June 21, 2008)


Indo-Pak friendship?

Sir: I wholeheartedly agree to a warming of ties between India and Pakistan, advocated in your editorial (Daily Times, June 20). I also agree that India, being the larger and currently better-endowed neighbour, with relatively established institutions, should make the first move and make larger concessions initially. However, I would like to make the following points. For India to make this kind of move, it will take more than a simple Lok Sabha majority for it to stick, politically. It will have to get more than its existing coalition to support the move. It is important to get an experienced statesman like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the current BJP leader Lal Krishan Advani, on board. Unlike (and now only supposedly) in the US, where divisions between Democrats and Republicans ‘stop at the water edge’, Indian political divisions stray beyond international borders, depending on how a political wind is blowing. Thus a meeting between the Indian and Pakistani government should be followed with meetings of the two governments with opposition politicians in both India and Pakistan, to arrive at a consensual minimum of measures agreed to by everybody. This consensus should be acted upon. Lifting some trade barriers unilaterally might be a good initial move, but if there are not similar concessions from Pakistan soon after, the Indian government might be on the losing end of the political stick at home. Political sensitivities on both side of the border should be carefully considered. Liberalising visas for senior citizens and children might be possible for India, but there are concerns about security. This problem will be obviated if the two governments agree to jointly fight terrorism. On the launching of this joint effort (which should be seen on the ground as genuine), visa clearances should be regularised.
GIRDHAR GOPAL
New York