Indo_pak Cricket Page 2

past failures at peace it might be more fitting to replace the frothy buoyancy surrounding the2004 peace plan with a circumspect'wait and watch' attitude. It is likely that India-Pakistan talks may be crisis-ridden like every other peace process, and vested interests and cornplacency with a protracted stalemate serve to replace upbeat enthusiasm with an imprudent inertia. However, the hopes of success stem from the sheer urgency of a longJasting peace process in South Asia, given the escalation of twin international threats of nuclear proliferation and terrorism, and the evolving geopolitical trajectories of India and Pakistan.

India's economy has prospered over the past few years and politically, its democracy continues to be durable if at times, chaotic. As it struggles to make its presence felt globally or even regionally, India has sought to make rudimentary efforts to refurbish ties with the United States, China, and other powers like France" Russia, Israel and its neighbouring states. Besides, there also seems to have been a tacit realisation on India's part that its geopolitical advancement is directly linked to its security relations with Pakistan, whose domestic instability and polarization pose the biggest security threat to India. Pakistan has" on the other hand made little economic progress in recent years> and even fewer attempts at modernisation. Its polity and society have often seemed to be high-jacked by a belligerent military establishment" and radical forces respectively. More recently, the implication of the accomplished Pakistani scientist A. Q. Khan in clandestine nuclear proliferation to Libya and lran, and the growing incidence of terrorist violence within its territory with alleged links to intemational terrorist groups have emerged as major threats to Pakistan's internati onal credibility and dome sti c stability.

During the cunent bilateral engagement process, which began with the Indian Prime Minister's suggestion of talks with Pakistan in early 2003, the two countries have displayed an unprecedented pragmatism While India has expressed its willingness to discuss Kashmir with Pakistan as opposed to an earlier elusiveness on the issue, the latter has moved beyond its stance of Kashmir being the focal point of its negotiations with India, and thus, agreed on a broader framework'the five-point agenda'for discussions and relationship building. Some of the issues slated for a composite dialogue are- peace, security, Jammu and Kashmir" economic and commercial co-operation, nuclear confidence building measures (CBMs), terrorism and promotion of friendly exchange at various levels. While, both the sides claim to explore every possibility for durable peace, security, and resolution of bilateral issues and to consider'special status'for each other, there also seems to be a realisation that 'war is not an option'. However, despite the display of initial pragmatism and mutual agreement on a proposed roadmap both the countries continue to share incompatible views over several issues including Kashmir, which threatens to be the biggest roadblock along the way. In the last fiffy years, Kashmir has become an ideological battleground, and a symbol of national identity for the two countries. while India seeks to defend the