Indo-Pak relations improving at fast pace

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 03, 2003

Indo-Pak relations improving at fast pace

India on Tuesday proposed December 18-19 as the dates for technical level discussions with Pakistan over the resumption of the Samjhauta Express train links between the two countries.

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India on Tuesday proposed December 18-19 as the dates for technical level discussions with Pakistan over the resumption of the Samjhauta Express train links between the two countries.

The Samjhauta Express, which linked Delhi to Lahore, was suspended by India in the wake of the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament in December 2001.

Pakistan replied quickly on the same day that it was ready to give a positive response. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman MasoodKhan said that Pakistan "did not foresee any problem to accept the proposal" on the resumption of the train links.

It is just hot on the heels of Monday's successful air-links talks. Official sources said the agreement to restore overflights and air services was reached in just four hours instead of the scheduled two days.

These positive moves in normalizing relations between the two rival countries was just following another important step toward dialogue, that is the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir on November 25.

In another intimation of the continuing thaw in bilateral relations, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said his country would pull back its troops from Kashmir, if India does the same.

Replying to questions from listeners on BBC's radio program broadcast on Monday, Musharraf said "India has seven lakh soldiers in Kashmir, whereas Pakistan has only 50,000. If Indian government is ready to remove their forces, we will remove ours tomorrow."

All this shows that the rigid relations between the two countries have started to improve at a fast pace, which can pave the way for a possible summit meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit scheduled next month in Islamabad.

At his first press conference, the newly appointed Indian Foreign Secretary Shashank on Tuesday refused to rule out a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atel Bihari Vajpayee and Musharraf when asked pointedly about such a possibility.

India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads since they declared independence from the British rule more than 50 years ago. Relations went even worse since December 13 of 2001 when terrorists attacked Indian Parliament, killing and wounding a score of people.

Although it is still too early for such a summit-level dialogue to take place, the confidence-building measures taken by the two countries have certainly helped normalizing the bilateral relations.

However, some sources said these are the early days in the process of rapprochement. The history of ties between the two neighboring countries proved a bumpy road ahead. But with determination of the leaders of the two countries, the peace process will gain a momentum and more social links and business will just follow.

In an atmosphere marked by friendly statements on both sides, Indian President Abdul Kalam has added his voice to the call for Indo-Pakistan friendship. Speaking at an armed forces colors presentation ceremony, he called on Pakistan to shed the past and work jointly with India to alleviate the suffering of the people of both countries.

"Working together, Pakistan and India could bring about happiness and prosperity to the citizens of both countries," the president said.

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