Indo-Pak dialogue

The fact that both have relented from their respective hard stands, 'only Kashmir' for Pakistan and 'all issues' for India, the present position of the two South Asian rivals suggest that it is their head rather than their heart that is guiding their actions.

What is significant to us is that the two big powers have got down to talking about their conventional weapons alongside talks on nuclear risk reduction. While nuclear weapons are designed to attain a balance and provide some degree of strategic parity, its use in any interstate conflict is hardy a possibility. That is not so in the case of conventional weapons, which proliferate exactly because of this consideration.

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That the two countries, one having the third largest military in the world and the other having one of the largest percentage of GDP expenditure on the military have decided to talk on their conventional arsenal, augurs well for the peoples of the two countries. While it would be premature to predict on the possible outcome of this particular aspect, it is heartening to note that it has featured in the dialogue in the first place, even if it is to, 'know each other's perspective,' to quote the Pakistan spokesmen.

It is also encouraging to note that the current CBM talks are being held in the backdrop of the recent talks between the two prime ministers in New Delhi that, to many observers, had very little cause for optimism because of the reiteration of their old positions on core issues.

We find it difficult to agree with those that do not credit the two as being responsible nuclear powers, although more needs to be done on the nuclear issue. However, we would like to think that all that has gone on in Islamabad in the last three days would help in reducing tensions and create conditions for further concrete discussions that would usher in an era of peace and harmony in the region.