The decision to resume foreign secretary level talks is an indication of the maturity of both countries’ leaders.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had to fly half way across the world to shake hands and break the chill which had crept into relations after the July 11 Mumbai blasts.
The stalled foreign secretary level talks, part of the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan, are to be revived and the standing invitation for Manmohan Singh to visit Pakistan has been renewed.
Significantly, the two leaders met without their aides. Generally when heads of governments meet, they talk alone for the first fifteen minutes or so before being joined by senior officials. Singh and Musharraf met for over an hour by themselves.
Manmohan Singh is certain to have asked the Pakistan president to stop the terror tap. Musharraf, on his part, would have emphasised the need to resolve the 'core' issue of Kashmir.
During his address at the NAM summit on Friday, Musharraf set the tone for his meeting with Singh. He spoke of a "historic opportunity" to close the chapter of tension between the two countries.
In Brussels, enroute to Havana, Musharraf said three years of engaging with India has led to an improved environment in the region. Much of the credit for the resumption of talks goes to the US, which has been urging both sides to get back to the table.
Professor SD Muni of the Observer Research Foundation, a think tank based in Delhi, told DNA: "I welcome the decision to restart the peace process, which should not have been disrupted. But we need to find out what assurances have been given by President Musharraf about acting against terror groups."
G Parthasarthy, former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, said, “Halting the talks, especially without evidence of Pakistan's involvement, was wrong. Resumption of foreign secretary level talks is welcome, but the prime minister will be ill advised to visit Pakistan without preparations. Personally I don't trust Musharraf as he says different things to different people.”
Former Indian diplomat and current chairman of the National Minorities Commission Hamid Ansari said, "The fact that there will be a joint statement indicates there has been agreement on some issues by both sides.”
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