Islamabad, January 11
As External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee prepares for his first visit to Pakistan this week-end, there is cautious optimism in India that the two countries will be able to move ahead in resolving their differences on two longstanding contentious issues - Sir Creek and Siachen.
The two sides are beginning the joint survey of Sir Creek on January 15 which is a major exercise. Besides, both sides have already agreed to the principal of equidistance for resolving the maritime boundary dispute.
Although there will be no big ticket agreements during Mr Mukherjee's two-day stay in Islamabad, New Delhi is looking for some progress in their talks on Siachen as it has got indications that Pakistan might agree to authentication of present positions, which has been a sticking point in their ongoing dialogue on this issue.
The Indian position on Siachen is that authentication of the present troops position on both sides is the first step before beginning talks on demilitarisation of the glacier and redeployment of troops. The Indian position remains unchanged.
Similarly, the two countries have also inched closer in bridging their differences on Sir Creek.
Besides these two matters, a host of other issues including terrorism, Kashmir, trade and existing visa agreements will be on the agenda during Mr Mukherjee's formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri. The top leadership of the two countries had met in Havana (Cuba) in September. Two months later, the two foreign ministers met in New Delhi when Mr Kasuri visited the Indian capital on an informal visit.
Mr Mukherjee is going to Islamabad ostensibly to invite Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for the SAARC summit being held in Delhi in April, the minister is using this opportunity to review all aspects of the progress made in the three rounds of composite dialogue already held, provide direction for the fourth round and set the stage for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s long pending visit to Pakistan which could even be as early as March.
Efforts will be also be made to resolve differences on the existing visa agreements as both sides are willing to liberalise travel restrictions. Sources said India had recently received Pakistan's response to its proposals in this regard which is under serious consideration. It is, however, ironical that the two sides are speaking of improving the restrictive visa regime as the two sides only recently further tightened the rules on the movement of their respective diplomats. Indian diplomats can no longer go to Rawalpindi and the hill station of Murree while their Pakistani counterparts are restricted from visiting the neighbouring Noida and Gurgoan.
From the Indian side, the issue of terrorism will get top billing as New Delhi will seek answers on the progress Islamabad has made in dismantling the terror infrastructure and containing terrorists operating from its territory. The joint mechanism that the two sides have agreed to set up to fight terrorism will also come under scrutiny.
If India's chief concern is cross-border terrorism, Pakistan will be seeking New Delhi’s response to Islamabad 's proposals on Jammu and Kashmir. Though both sides are looking at a common set of ideas, sticking points still persist.
