Commentary/E M S Namboodiripad

Let us not discuss Kashmir now, let us wait till bilateral ties improve

This week I will reflect on the Indo-Pak talks scheduled to be held in India later this month.

Pakistan's willingness to resume dialogue with India is significant. Their former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had maintained that talks would be reopened only after solving the Kashmir issue. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief's move to take up other issues is a welcome change from this obstinate stand.

It will be proper to go into the history of the Indo-Pak dispute on this occasion. On the basis of religion, Pakistan has been demanding the Muslim-dominated Kashmir as part of their country. But this proposal was not at all acceptable to the erstwhile rulers of Jammu and Kashmir. The then Jammu and Kashmir maharaja held that the state was an integral part of India. The people of Kashmir also put their stamp of approval on this by voting for Sheikh Abdullah in subsequent elections. Pakistan has now realised that they cannot annex Kashmir without its army's help.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has now come up with the suggestion that India recognise the line of actual control in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as its international border. The suggestion is not acceptable to both countries, as Kashmir is an emotional issue. I don't think it is practical. It is better to acknowledge the prevailing differences and strive to thrash out an acceptable solution.

Kashmir arouses emotions both in India and Pakistan. We had a similar dispute with China earlier. There was great tension between the countries as we now have with Pakistan, but both countries decided to hold back on the border issue and proceed with other matters. The thinking was that discussions on the contentious issue could start when the atmosphere became more cordial.

We should emulate this. Let us not discuss Kashmir now, let us come to an understanding on trade and other related matters with Pakistan. The border issue can be taken up when the bilateral ties improve. And both countries should try not to resort to armed struggle anymore.

Since Nawaz Sharief is not as obstinate as his predecessor, I see much scope for good bilateral relations between the countries.

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