In the case of India-Pakistan the tide was late in coming but finally it arrived. Fortunately leaders of the calibre of Vajpayee and Musharraf were available to seize it at the flood and sweep away the flotsam and jetsam of distrust, doubts and suspicions. Now the doves soar. The hawks are silenced. The sharp edge of the hatchet has been blunted in preparation to bury it for good.
The history of India-Pakistan relations is a sad story. The two independent countries came into existence under the climate of ill-will, enmity and hatred. There were and still are innumerable differences and disputes but Kashmir has become the main bone of contention.
We have insisted on implementation of UN Resolutions promising plebiscite, which we interpret as accession to Pakistan; while India is adamant to deny it and keeps on chanting the mantra that Kashmir is 'Atoot Ang' (inseparable part) of India and under no circumstances will be allowed to secede. Both claim "principled" stand. The positions are, therefore, poles apart and well nigh impossible to bridge. Several secretary level talks held in the past were fiascos taking us not an inch further. We have also fought three wars, one of which leading to amputation of Pakistan.
The Congress, supposed to be secular, had dragged its feet during its long tenure in office to arrive at reconciliation. It was left to BJP which came to power on Hindutva ticket to take an initiative for rapprochement. Atal Behari Vajpayee came to Lahore riding a bus from Delhi. Nawaz Sharif the then Prime Minister of Pakistan committed a tactical error in not taking on board the army who boycotted the meeting. It should have been realised that no agreement with India was possible without the consent of military high command. The talks, therefore, were sabotaged and not only failed to enhance friendship but also intensified enmity when the army staged Kargil adventure a few months later. It humiliated India but humbled Pakistan too, being forced to withdraw without achieving the goal. Kargil also became the last nail on the coffin of India-Pakistan dialogue.
Musharraf, however, has a special gift of taking u-turns. Perhaps he admitted to himself that Kargil was a mistake and decided to make amends. In July 2001, he invited himself to Agra Summit. At the negotiating table he scored hands down and won Vajpayee's confidence making him agree to a joint declaration of understanding arrived at. But he overplayed his cards when he charmed the Indian media to eulogise him. This infuriated the hawks in Vajpayee government who ensured that he goes back home empty handed without the joint declaration in his pocket. It was disappointing but it established his credentials in Vajpayee's mind that "Musharraf was the man with whom business could be done".
Unfortunately 9/11 changed the scenario. India was frustrated when Musharraf's another u-turn in abandoning Taliban took Pakistan out off US persona-non-grata list and become American friend and ally. Terrorist attack on Indian Parliament proved the last straw on the camel's back and India decided to go to war, their army wanting to avenge Kargil. The eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with nuclear propensity made the situation grim. But wiser counsels prevailed and the catastrophe was avoided due to fear of mutual destruction and foreign diplomatic pressures.
It now appears that notwithstanding all the tensions and strains Vajpayee and Musharraf's mutual alchemy had clicked transmuting potency for peace, and the present development is the result thereof. Despite all the doubts and denials Vajpayee came to Pakistan for the 12th Saarc conference. An unscheduled one-to-one meeting took place and there is rejoicing all around that at last the deadlock is broken and a thaw has begun. Overall relations are bound to improve, but we are still a long way to untie the gordian knot of Kashmir.
The present scenario is, however, propitious as both the countries are fortunate to have stable governments with strong leaders at the helm capable of changing political and policy directions towards what they consider mutual national interest. Musharraf and Vajpayee have proved their ability and integrity. In politics there are always opponents either honest or dishonest. Vajpayee has to deal with Congress a political rival for power, and Sangh Pariwar - supporters of BJP and yet extremist least inclined to endorse reconciliation with Pakistan. On this side Musharraf has to cope with PPP-PML(N) who are not happy with him because he is a military man - a usurper of their inherent democratic right to rule. The more difficult ones are the religious extremists who are averse to compromise in any shape and form and their Jehadi agenda includes elimination of Musharraf as according to them he is anti-Islam and, therefore, an obstacle to their dream of making Pakistan a Taliban type theocratic Muslim state.
It has been stated that foreign powers, specially USA and UK, have pressurised Pakistan and India to sort out their differences through bilateral negotiations. This is only partially true as far as Pakistan is concerned. We have always been appealing and clamouring for talks and it is India who has been intransigent. But all that is in the past and we are witnessing a new dawn of friendship and camaraderie. There is no reason why these bonds of understanding should not be nourished and strengthened to lead the two neighbours to peace and prosperity. What is needed is patience, the spirit of accommodation and the will to succeed.
As far as Kashmir is concerned "Delhi Hanooz Dur Ast" but with all the bridges that are being built, there is no reason why we should not reach there in the near future.
Musharraf could say that "we have achieved 'peace' in our times. Let us hope and pray that it is not of the type Chamberlain the British Prime Minister claimed in 1939".
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