At last Indian foreign secretary S. Jaishankar met Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It has reportedly had positive results. Nawaz Sharif said that the two nations should think together and act together. But bringing the two nations closer is easier said than done. New Delhi has already indicated that the Islamabad meeting does not necessarily mean a composite dialogue will follow. The communiques issued by the two countries do not clarify the situation. Islamabad is making the absurd allegation that India is funding terrorist groups in the Northwestern part of Pakistan. Delhi is harping on the slow progress of the 26/11 trial. The talks recently held were merely aimed at crisis-control. Islamabad is apprehensive of an Indian counter-offensive against terrorist attacks across the LoC. Its troops have their hands full tackling the Taliban menace. Diplomatic moves may reduce the danger of escalation of conflict between the two countries. India faces economic problems and can well do without a confrontation across the border.
But peace is still far off. Islamabad has bridled Jihadist operations in Kashmir somewhat and restraints have been put on terrorist organizations targeting India. However, groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba are still going strong and future attacks by them are very much on the cards. Violence in Kashmir has been mounting and the conciliatory attitude of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, the new Chief Minister of the state does not improve matters. Delhi’s intentions remain unclear. It has not defined its attitude to whether Kashmiri secessionists should participate in the dialogue process, demilitarization of Siachen and settlement of the Sir Creek issue. The latest dialogue may betoken new thinking in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs but does not thaw the continuing impasse between Delhi and Islamabad.