Whatdo you think would be the outcome of the parleys between the two prime ministersgiven that the much-hyped meeting between you and the late Rajiv Gandhi failedto produce any tangible results?
There is a huge backlog of mistrust and suspicion between the two countries.Moreover, Nawaz Sharif lacks the comprehension of the complex regional andinternational situation. That's why I do not expect much to come out of theforthcoming talks.
It is not correct to say that the meeting between me and prime minister RajivGandhi did not produce tangible results. That was the time I believe, when anearnest beginning was made and a bold initiative taken. We signed an agreementnot to attack each other's nuclear facilities. We made headway on Siachen and anagreement for the settlement of the dispute was signed at the secretaries'level. The dodgy issue of Sir Creek was explored and delegations were exchangedto narrow the differences and find a solution to the Wullar Barrage issue. Butthe hawks on both sides succeeded in scuttling the peace process initiated byus.
Ifyou were the prime minister, what would have been on your agenda?
I would have told the Indian prime minister, 'Look, let us ask ourselves what wewant. Must the people of our two countries, the people of South Asia, remainprisoners of the past or should we both make conscious and deliberate efforts tomake our people rise to a magnificent future?' With this as the preamble, Iwould tell the Indians how important it was to address the issue of Kashmir foran ultimate resolution of all our problems and disputes. Because the Kashmirproblem has brought us to war before and could very well do so again. And itwill be catastrophic for the region as both India and Pakistan are now declarednuclear powers.
I would have asked the Indian prime minister to take a number ofconfidence-building measures immediately. I would have been even ready toidentify these measures. I would have also sought to pursue some concreteinitiatives on our part. I would have suggested the beginning of a dialogue foropen borders between Azad Kashmir and Jammu Kashmir as the starting point ofopen borders throughout South Asia. And I would have also proposed talks formutual arms reduction and redeployment of forces. Not much may be expected fromthese initiatives immediately, but sooner or later it would, because the forceof an idea whose time has come eventually triumphs.
IsSharif's camaraderie genuine goodwill and an effort to better ties, or is it dueto pressure from the Americans?
I can't speak for Sharif. He has still not taken the people into confidence. Nodiscussion has taken place either in the National Assembly or in the Senate.Even the Cabinet has not been taken into confidence. So no one is sure what hismotives are in appearing to warm to India. No one can say for sure if he'sdriven by personal considerations or by a real desire to improve relations undersome external pressures.
Butdoesn't the future of the bus service and other such measures depend upon thenature of diplomatic ties between the two countries?
The bus service between India and Pakistan is no more than a cosmetic step inthe context of overall Indo-Pak relations. However, we welcome the bus servicebetween the two countries as a small confidence-building measure between the twonations. The bus service is yet to be fitted into a larger peace plan involvingthe two countries.
