Islmabad — President Asif Zardari’s hint at “some good news” about Kashmir has triggered speculations in diplomatic and political circles here about the nature of the upcoming initiative between Pakistan and India. In his maiden news conference after being sworn in President of Pakistan on Tuesday Zardari referred to back-channel dialogue between the two countries and promised some good news before the term of the ruling Congress Party in India expires (in May 2009). He said he has talked to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and also taken into confidence other mainstream leaders on the issue.While India’s External Affairs Ministry expressed surprise and lack of knowledge on Zardari’s promise, Pakistan’s Foreign Office was equally taken off-guard and could not make any comment.
The president spent about two hours at the Foreign Office on Thursday to receive briefings on major issues but had little to offer to explain his remarks at the news conference.
The officials later tried to lower the expectations raised by the president’s statement. “There is not going to be any major breakthrough on the Kashmir issue in coming months,” a senior Pakistani diplomat said. The composite dialogue process initiated by former Indian premier Atal Bihari Vajpayee and ex-president Pervez Musharraf would continue under the new government, with greater vigour and much better atmospherics, he said.
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Both governments are reportedly working on a plan to launch flow of goods trucks between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of Azad Kashmir. Perishable fruits and vegetables, besides furniture and other goods could be moved between the two points. Both sides are also actively considering the proposal for exchange of visits by members of chambers of commerce and industry of Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
The Azad Kashmir chamber has already sent to the Indian government the list of members of its delegation who want to visit Srinagar.
The new Pakistani President is also on record that he wants to give pre-eminence to expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation hoping that it would help foster progress on the more intractable issues like Kashmir.
Nawaz Sharif also supports improved ties with India while Zardari’s other coalition partners including ANP, the JUI and MQM are equally enthusiastic about augmenting the peace talks. The liberal media has extended full support to this thinking. “Now is the time to push for real progress in the long-running but wobbly peace process,” daily Dawn said while editorially commenting on Zardari’s news conference.