MOHALI ROUND OF CRICKET DIPLOMACY

It seems with the Mohali round of diplomacy all problems between India and Pakistan have been settled. That is the magic of cricket. Actually only the spade-work for further rounds of talks has been laid out in a cordial atmosphere. The bonhomie between the two countries is really worth appreciation.
Indian Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh’s timely invite to Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Sardari, Pak President and their immediate acceptance of the invite in the backdrop of an exciting semi-final paid much dividends and both premiers did discuss various matters affecting both of them. ManMohan Singh’s reference to large-scale poverty, disease and unemployment in both countries did come for talks, similarly the tsunami, earthquake and nuclear tragedy affecting Japan and the sudden development in West Asian countries.
An important matter which became amply clear was that like India, Pakistan too is badly in need of peace and prosperity ,it also wants to free itself from the clutches of terrorism and for that the two nations need to co-operate with vigour and resolve.
The Mumbai carnage of 26/11/08 did come for talks and it was natural and in order to help India to further speed up the process of bringing the culprits to book Pakistan for the first time agreed for a judicial commission to visit Pakistan and conduct an investigation. This decision was an important turning point as far as both nations are concerned.
To a question, whether there was a push from USA, on both nations to negotiate a solution both leaders made it clear that they needn’t have the intervention of a third party and let’s remember that Pakistan for the first time is not insisting the intervention of a third party for further talks on the core issue of Kashmir.
As I had already mentioned the Mohali round of cricket diplomacy to lay the spadework for further negotiations, please note Pakistan-India problems extend upto more than six decades hence several rounds of talks are needed between Foreign Secretary level, Foregin Ministerial level and Prime Ministerial level.
Now that spadework has been laid out Foreign Secretary level talks are certainly expected especially on the core issue of Kashmir.
Since the relationship between the two nations being a delicate matter since forces opposed to an improvement in relations work overtime, the two countries need be vigilant.
As Gilani after arriving in Islamabad said the talks with India was a win-win one and the same must be the response of our Prime Minister also. The same is our response.
Let an atmosphere of peace, calm and cordiality prevail in both countries and let a recurrence of enmities not arise in future especially because of India and Pakistan are two neighbouring nations.
As Pakistan had made it clear, let’s avoid a third party intervention as it clearly displays a weakness on our part.
Similarly both PMs might have had a discussion about hundreds of prisoners languishing in the jails of both countries. Let them be freed by both nations as a step in the right direction.