South Asian regional politics is full of surprises, even for those who observe it on a daily basis. Every day brings along its compulsions. The sudden change of attitude of the Indian leadership in April this year is a case in point. When they suddenly changed their tone from "fourth and final round", "Pakistan is a fit case for pre-emptive strike" to "talks solves all problems and "we are ready to talk with Pakistan." Vajpayee’s Srinagar speech changed the atmosphere in South Asia and some moves, though quite slow, were made to normalise relations. Then came the recent UN speeches by Vajpayee and Musharraf and many observers expressed the view that both parties have returned to square one. On October 22, India offered 12 confidence building measures. Prime amongst them: resumption and extension of air and rail link; new bus service between Srinagar in Indian held Kashmir and Muzaffarabad; liberalisation of visa regime, and permitting people over 65 years age to cross the border at Wagah on foot. Pakistan’s foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar, while addressing a press conference on October 29, announced that Pakistan accepts all rational CBMs.

According to details available, Pakistan offered India the start of additional bus services from Lahore to Amritsar, reviving of rail links, 100 scholarships for Kashmiri students, free treatment of 40 Indian patients in Pakistani hospitals, a proposal for rehabilitation of Kashmiri victims, etc. Though the Foreign Secretary announced that Pakistan had accepted all CBMs in principle, he also offered varying mechanisms for their implementation in addition to saying that some of the Indian proposals would be accepted subject to the holding of composite bilateral dialogues.

Pakistan technically agreed to the Indian offer of a bus service between Srinagar and Muzafarabad if New Delhi agreed to provide UN travel documents to Kashmiri passengers with check-posts on disputed territories to be manned by UN observers. According to legal and diplomatic experts, any proposal to allow Kashimiris on Indian passport would have been tantamount to conceding disputed Kashmir being legitimately held by India. It seems that it was this very realization that moved Pakistani policy makers to link the implementation of this proposal through UN. Many observers in Pakistan are of the view that the Indian offer of bus service between Srinagar and Muzzafarabad is not realistic and premature. An editorial in the Lahore based Daily Times has very rightly pointed out that "If Pakistan were to agree to a bus service across the Line of Control, allowing also in the process Indian immigration officials to stamp Pakistani passports, Pakistan could conceivably be said by India to have implicitly conceded India's suzerainty over an area that is disputed. India could cite state practice as the basis of the control of the area and Pakistan's acceptance of that control·. Therefore, this proposal is premature". Mr. Khokhar also emphasized resumption of rail links, commonly known as Samjhauta Express, pleading the problem of bulk traffic between two countries could be addressed through railway routes which India has been linking with the revival of over flight rights. He was very clear on the issue:" We don't accept rail-links resumption with that of revival of air-links," he added.

The Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna while reacting to Pakistani offers said that despite the limited positive responses from Pakistan, it was clear that the Indian Prime Minister's initiative has gained momentum. Reacting to Pakistan's condition for the bus service between Srinagar and Muzafarabad, he said, it is unfortunate that Pakistan has opted to politicize and disrupt this by attaching conditions that they knew would not be acceptable. Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes said, "What is the UN going to do on the roads which are meant for the common people. What have they got to do there? It is meaningless."

On Pakistan's offer of 100 scholarships to Kashimiri students and medical help to violence-affected women, Mr. Sarna said India was amused at Pakistan's concern at the plight of people in Jammu and Kashmir. "If Pakistan's concerns are really sincere, it should take immediate steps to end infiltration, dismantle terrorist camps and offer compensation to those affected by terrorism." He also repeated the Indian stance that Jammu & Kashmir is not a disputed territory. The only issue that remains to be resolved for a final settlement of J&K is the question of Pakistan's illegal occupation of a portion of the state.

The Daily Times has again rightly called the Indian and Pakistani offers as attempts to outsmart each other. This approach will not serve any purpose. It seems that in the foreseeable future nothing substantial will take place to enhance the peace process in South Asia. It is most likely that both parties will continue to talk peace now and then and talks on the resumption of air and rail link might continue but more is required if the leadership of South Asia sincerely want peace in the region. Both parties have to get rid of their agenda of scoring points over each other. Both parties also have to initiate a public debate in their countries to ascertain what exactly they want from the other party and what they are ready to give. Unless there is a spirit of give and take in South Asia, peace will remain elusive. It is high time that the leadership of India and Pakistan learn the lesson that it takes one to fight a war but it takes two to establish peace.