By Tridivesh Singh Maini

Soldiers patrol the fenced border in Jammu between India and Pakistan. Guest author Tridivesh Maini argues breakthrough in Indo-Pak relations will require bold leadership. Source: auweia’s flickr photostream, used under a creative commons license.

Indo-Pak dialogue, which was suspended in the aftermath of tensions across the Line of Control (LOC) in January 2013, was to resume in August 2013, and prime ministers of both countries were to meet in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September. The recent tensions across the LOC have cast a shadow on both. The strong resolution passed in the Pakistan National Assembly earlier this week has not helped the cause of reducing tensions.While the events of the last week are tough to overlook for both sides, especially India, since elections are less than a year away, they must move forward. It is imperative for both New Delhi and Islamabad to avoid jingoistic discourse and ensure that engagement does not stop. To do this both sides need to take some bold steps.

It is unfortunate engagement is again thrown in question because the last two months have witnessed some encouraging developments.

First, India’s external affairs minister, Salman Khurshid met with Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Pakistan’s prime minister on national security and foreign affairs in Brunei on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. Second, Pakistan prime minister Sharif’s special envoy, Shahryar Khan, also met Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh on July 5. Sharif, who faces numerous domestic security and economic challenges, sent a letter via Khan with warm wishes for the people of India, and also expressed a desire to take the bilateral relationship to new heights. A possible visit for Singh to Pakistan and a meeting between Singh and Sharif in New York were discussed.

http://cogitasia.com/time-for-the-political-leadership-to-bite-the-bullet/