A Meeting With No Agenda

Before these talks began and now that they have come to an end, the one thing that comes across is that there was no agenda for the moot between foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India. Even the smallest of meetings of any kind and anywhere in the world are held on a pre set agenda...and that is quite understandable since resources are consumed to hold gatherings. But for such a big buzzing meeting there was no agenda!!

Neighbours in Love

Pakistan and India are no ordinary neighbours! They are nuclear armed and have fought three wars with each other. A day before these talks began , there was unprovoked firing from the Indian side in the Sialkot sector. A couple of days after India announced these talks, a bakery in Pune was targeted-the example of which was quoted by Indian authorities to drum the terrorism issue.

Cultural similarities and people to people affiliations doesn't go beyond media rhetoric. Star Plus soaps and Pakistan music can perhaps be used to over romanticise this bond because how would you explain the Pakistani cricket players being kept out of the Indian Premier League and Shiv Sena asking Shahrukh Khan to go and live in Pakistan during the "My name is Khan" fiasco.

Need that push?

Secretary Clinton lets the cat out of the bag when she says loud and clear that Us played its part in bringing the two sides together. Many say US has its own interests in getting the two nations shaking hands. India however refuses to acknowledge any third party mediation. Kashmir the heart of the dispute remains nothing more than red herring for India. May be after todays talks US would realise the great responsibility on its shoulders for getting something concrete out of the two smart nations.

How to look at it?

Look at it any way you like . When India thinks that unrest in Baluchistan (which Pakistan thinks India is backing sitting pretty in Afghanistan) is Pakistan's internal matter but minorities rights in Paksitan is India's business, you can make little sense out of what the future holds for these two nations. I think it will help you if you are a natural optimist.

So?

But talks they say are always good. So lets take the popular word and lets hope the next time they meet there is some agenda but tell you what handing three more dossiers to Pakistan to answer was an agenda that India was clear about.