Pakistan : Terrorist Wahabi Islamic Rep Pakistan 7

[ravish]

It is part of India’s policy to keep Pakistan engaged and through these measures it expects that confidence and goodwill will build up between the two countries. As you are aware, there are hardliners on both side of the border. In India we have a number of opinion makers who think that there should be no dealing with Pakistan, till it agrees to all the demands made by India from time to time since 1947.

In Pakistan, a section of the opinion makers feel that there should be no interaction with India till Kashmir dispute is resolved as per the dictates of Pakistan. In between these two extreme positions, the successive governments on both sides of the border have tried to move forward. Some have succeeded to some extent and some have failed. The reasons for the stalemate are well know and needs no repetition.

There are media reports today, quoting the Pakistan Army Chief as saying that normalisation of relations with India is a must for the socio economic development of both the countries. There is nothing new or significant in this statement, except that it gives some insight to the thoughts within the Pakistan military establishment. So far it has been the general perception that the Pakistan Army leadership is against any normalisation of relations with India. However, today’s statement from the Pak Army Chief is in total contrast with the public perception in India of Pak Army. Let us hope that this trend continues and some positive developments do take place.