NEW DELHI, Feb 1 (UNI) More than five years after the composite dialogue between them collapsed following sharp differences, India and Pakistan are set to hold talks later this month in Islamabad amid hopes that the step-by-step process this time round will be taken to its logical conclusion .
With the international security scenario undergoing a sea change following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States after which the world community launched a relentless war against terrorism, expectations on both sides of the border in India and Pakistan are that the two neighbours will finally see reason in living peacefully with each other by resolving bilateral differences through negotiations.
The joint secretaries of the two countries will hold talks on February 16-17, followed by a one-day meeting between the two foreign secretaries.
These meetings are expected to set the stage for the resumption of the composite dialogue between the two countries.
Arun K Singh, joint secretary (Pakistan) in the external affairs ministry, will hold talks on behalf of India with his Pakistani counterpart, Jaleel Abbas Jilani to finalise the agenda for a structured dialogue between the two countries, which is likely to be a long-drawn affair with India reading for elections.
The two joint secretaries will forward the agenda to their foreign secretaries Shashank (India) and Riaz Khokhar (Pakistan).
Official sources said the joint secretaries were expected to pick up the threads from where the two sides left off five years ago, a few months after their two countries conducted tit-for-tat nuclear tests.
The decision to resume the composite dialogue was taken after an ice-breaking meeting between prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Islamabad on January 5.
In a joint statement issued the next day, the two leaders welcomed the steps by the two countries towards normalisation of relations and expressed hope that the positive trends set by the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) would be consolidated.
The agreement between the two leaders was reached only after Gen Musharraf reassured Vajpayee that he would not permit any territory under Pakistan's control to be used to support terrorism in any manner.
Both Vajpayee and Gen Musharraf expressed confidence that the resumption of the composite dialogue would lead to peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both sides.
Indications are that the two countries are equally serious about mending fences and promoting ties in different areas, especially economic sectors and trade.
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shiv Shankar Menon recently visited Pakistan's commercial capital of Karachi and again asked Islamabad to give India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation.
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan too recently visited Kolkata for exploring opportunities for economic cooperation.
The two countries will also be resuming cricketing ties at the top level in march when the Saurav Ganguly-led Indian team goes across the border to play 3 tests and 5 one-day internationals with excitement over the move having already reached its crescendo in both countries.
With bitter experience in the past, India has this time decided to adopt a step-by-step approach in doing business with the neighbouring country.
India wanted resumption of dialogue at the joint secretary-level but Pakistan insisted that it should be revived at the foreign secretary-level.
The foreign ministers of the two countries, during their telephonic conversation a few days back, decided to take into account the views of both the sides and agreed that the joint secretaries would meet for two days, followed by a meeting between the two foreign secretaries.
The two countries had commenced composite dialogue earlier in March 1997 when talks were held between then foreign secretary Salman Haider and his Pakistani counterpart Shamshad Ahmed.
The two sides had identified eight subjects for discussions.
They were Jammu and Kashmir, peace and security, Siachen, Woollar barrage, Sir Creek, terrorism, economic and commercial cooperation and cultural exchanges.
It is to be seen if the joint secretaries will resume dialogue with these 8 issues as the subjects of discussions.
There are reports that some more subjects may be added to the
