The more they talk, the less they'll bite The good news at the end of the much hyped-up meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and India was that the two countries will continue the dialogue. The bad news was that none of the gains that had been expected were in sight - easing of visa restrictions (which would benefit ordinary people from both countries as well as boost local economies), forward movement on Kashmir (Pakistan's hope/expectation), a commitment from Pakistan on 'terror' (India's hope/expectation) to name some.

"They're just saying we'll keep talking but we'll also keep biting," commented a disgruntled senior colleague at the post-press conference reception in Islamabad.

However, in the context of India-Pakistan relations -- more they talk, the less they'll bite. And the more they talk, the closer they can get to understanding each other's perceptions and moving closer to taking steps that the other side would welcome. This is not to endorse 'talking just for the sake of talking' but to underline the point that, given the lengthy periods in which there has been no dialogue, any contact is better than none. As senior Indian journalist Prem Shankar Jha notes in his analysis published on this page, during the recent meeting, neither side fully understood the constraints of the other - including domestic compulsions.

Then there was the media hype. Their biggest mistake was the much delayed press conference. Journalists, waiting for over six hours for something meaty to file or broadcast, were just raring to go. Those who were called upon - including in the question session extending beyond the original format of two questions from each side - let rip with provocative questions. That is after all what journalists do. Not to mention that some of those who asked provocative questions are known to have links with the conservative 'establishment'. Why must they be called upon every time? Perhaps because there are powerful interests in the establishments on both sides who don't want peace - or who, at the very least, want to push their own agendas that have no space for the political constraints of the other side.

What this press conference - as well as during previous occasions -- made abundantly clear was that talks between Pakistan and India should be held away from the media glare. "Peace is not an event but a process," as a Naga woman said, addressing a gathering of South Asian women some time ago. This is something that the governments on both sides need to understand.

Time to stop playing to the media gallery and the public, and move towards a sustained, consistent and open-minded communication. The bottom line is that there is no alternative to dialogue. And that while the governments sort out their political differences, they should at least not let the people suffer - ease visa restrictions, let people meet, allow trade (yes, even transit trade), remove non-tariff barriers. In short, behave like civilised neighbours in the 21st century.

-Beena Sarwar

Thursday, July 22, 2010

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