The Hindu : 'India, Pakistan must proceed with caution'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 10, 2004

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National

'India, Pakistan must proceed with caution'

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 9. India and Pakistan must proceed with hope, tempered with caution after their ice-breaking meetings in Islamabad last month, the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

A key player in the India-Pakistan and India-China rapprochement process, Mr. Mishra said: "There have been some winds of change in South Asia, following a series of initiatives taken by our Prime Minister [Atal Bihari Vajpayee] since April last year and positive responses from Pakistan."

"At Islamabad last month, our Prime Minister and Pakistan's President [Pervez] Musharraf agreed to recommence the process of India-Pakistan dialogue in an atmosphere free from terrorism."

"...There is no denying that improved India-Pakistan relations can transform the political and security landscape of South Asia. I must emphasise that the dialogue can be taken forward and sustained only if violence, hostility and terrorism are prevented," Mr. Mishra said.

Clubbing partners against (nuclear) proliferation with countries of "true proliferation concern" [Pakistan?] was a self-defeating approach that could only weaken the cause of genuine non-proliferation, he said.

Challenges of terrorism

"Approaches to security based on conventional alliances, arms competition, deterrence and diplomacy have been less than effective in coping with the challenges posed by terrorism, suicide attacks, WMD [Weapons of Mass Destruction] proliferation and failing States. Asia, both as source and destination, has witnessed proliferation of the WMD," Mr. Mishra said.

Extraordinary measures were being contemplated to guarantee security from these challenges. "A multilateral consultative machinery with international credibility can provide legitimacy to such measures. But for it to be effective, it has to be evolved with wide and representative consultations."

On India-China relations, Mr. Mishra said that recent advances held the promise of far-reaching geo-strategic consequences. "Over the past decade and more, India and China have maintained peace and tranquillity on their borders and have developed all-round cooperation, even while continuing a dialogue on our differences over the border...our Prime Minister has publicly stated that India is willing to take pragmatic decisions to fulfil the strategic objective of a comprehensive boundary settlement with China."

Speaking on the theme of "Peace, Stability and Security in Asia: India's Perspectives," Mr. Mishra said there was a growing recognition that Asia's energy resources and fast-growing demand for these fuels could create a new cementing factor in Asian relations. "Energy transfers and establishment of new routes of transportation can create mutual linkages and economic benefits, which can help to sink political differences, dispel historical suspicions and soften ethnic confrontations. This is an area of promise — as yet untapped — in intra-Asian relations."

Iraq's immediate needs

Referring to Iraq, Mr. Mishra said that debates within the international community continued on the legitimacy of the military action; on unilateralism versus multilateralism, and on doctrines of pre-emption. "While this is part of a search for new ground rules in an emerging world order, we must also focus on the immediate requirements of that country."

"The ground situation in Iraq has become even more complex after the fall of Baghdad in April last year. The security environment has prevented any substantive progress in reconstruction. The international community has to participate meaningfully in these efforts for early transfer of sovereignty to an Iraqi Government.

"It is important that this process is accepted by the Iraqi people as transparent and truly representative of the internal, political, economic and social currents. This is why U.N. [United Nations] participation is so critical. The challenge is to create a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic secular democracy, while preserving Iraq's territorial integrity..."

Referring to Afghanistan, Mr. Mishra said the Loya Jirga had successfully drafted a Constitution, the Karzai Government had strengthened its base and reconstruction work was gradually expanding.

But at the same time, we cannot ignore the resurgence of Taliban forces in the South and South-East, the growth of warlordism and the inability of provincial reconstruction teams to even enter some of the provinces.

"The acid test of returning normalcy in Afghanistan would be the conduct of elections later this year in all parts of the country without fear, intimidation, violence...this is a crucial phase, when the international coalition against terrorism cannot afford to turn its attention away from Afghanistan," he said.

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