The Hindu Business Line : Mood circumspect in Pakistan

EVEN as the Foreign Secretary-level talks concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday, the mood in Pakistan vis-à-vis the much-hyped Indo-Pak peace process is circumspect.

From the former Federal Interior Minister (in General Musharraf's Cabinet from 1999-2002), Gen. Moinuddin Haider, to businessmen, professionals or housewives in Karachi, to the man on the street in Islamabad, want peace with India. There is consensus that too much time has been wasted already, and the two countries have missed several opportunities to bury the hatchet and move ahead, taking their respective nations on the path of development and progress.

But the Islamabad SAARC summit and an unexpected bonanza in the form of a joint statement from India and Pakistan, in which promise was made not to allow Pakistani soil to be used by militants, as well as the hope held out that a composite dialogue would be held on all issues, including Kashmir, has heralded a new ray of hope. But behind optimistic utterances almost everybody you talk to in Pakistan wonders how much of the Indian willingness to sit down and talk peace with Pakistan is linked to the coming general elections.

My driver Abdul Rasheed Khan, a gentleman with a long, flowing beard, has neither the talent nor the need to couch his words in diplomatic language, and says bluntly, "Peace with India is necessary for our country to progress. Lekin na jane kyo yeh Kashmir ka mudda beech mei latka diya hei. Pachas saal se hamarey leader yeh khwab dikha rahey hei aur ab khud is jaal mei phans gaye hei (Our leaders have unnecessarily brought Kashmir as a bone of contention between the two countries, shown us this dream for 50 years and now can't get out of the situation.)"

As most Pakistanis, he too has his own suggestion on how to solve the Kashmir problem, but it is dramatically different from what you normally hear.

Aap apna rakh lo, hum hamara rakh ley aur is zhagdey ko khatam karo. Aap ke Kashmir mei tau sona ugta hei, woh Hindustan hamey thoda denga? (You keep yours, we keep ours and let's finish this fight. Anyway, in your part of Kashmir, there is gold sprouting, so how will India give it to us.)"

Talking to General Haider on various Kashmir "formulas"... one, he particularly mentions is that land on either side of the Chenab river be divided between the two countries. "Well, there are many formulas going around and being discussed behind the scenes and by the Track II people. Our President has shown flexibility by saying that we can consider several options.

He hinted, even at the cost of becoming rather unpopular among the Pakistani people, that we could move away even from the UN resolution, if we can move forward. I think he is strong enough to take a decision. He had gone mentally prepared to do that in Agra also, but we lost an opportunity. But when people from India come for Basant and other celebrations and talk about akhand Bharat, people here get upset and think there is a game going on."

He finds the events of the last few weeks "very encouraging. I hope this time it is real, sustainable, and we move to a position of better relations. There is a change of heart required and may be there is realisation on both sides, may be there is international pressure, may be people on both sides wants relations to improve."

He agrees that the route ahead is going to be long and slow but "if there is political resolve on both sides, if you don't use it only as an election issue and realise that a long and growing relationship will be beneficial to both sides, much can be achieved."

But while advocating softer borders between the two Kashmirs, as also the two countries, General Haider doesn't think that making the LoC could be a possible solution.

"Unfortunately that may not be acceptable to Pakistan, because here people's expectations have been heightened and the Pakistani leadership has been saying that Kashmir is a core issue on which we will never compromise. So that's the problem. But for that there would not have been so many wars. If that happens, people will say what have we achieved?"

As usual the business and trade lobby is vociferously for improving ties with India and Mr Siraj K. Teli, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, disagrees with the views expressed by a section of the business community that opening up the two markets to each other would result in Pakistan being swamped by cheaper Indian goods.

"On the contrary, I think we will have an advantage in certain sectors, such as the textile sector, where we are stronger in many areas. Anyway, we are moving towards a barrier-free world in the next few years, so this would prepare us to face the competition."

Mr Teli speaks for the majority of Pakistanis when he says, "At the moment, there is a lot of hope here, but god forbid, if anything goes wrong again, both the sides should agree on one thing; they should never take things back to the stage when we cut off all communication and travel links - road, air and train - between the two countries. That was a disaster and should never happen again. If the talks fail, let the state of our relations continue to remain where they are now... let us not go backward."

Response may be sent to rasheeda@thehindu.co.in