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AMID a face-to-face contact — hallmarked by unique style of seeking the Kashmiris into confidence on the most up-to-date peace overtures for a robust peace in South Asia, Pakistan has — eventually — accomplished a crammed n’ concrete mandate from the chivalrous natives of the charismatic Himalayan State.

With an outright pledge that Kashmir will remain the focal point in any Indo-Pak talks, Kashmiri leaders — at the week-end — rayed a go-ahead gesture to President General Pervez Musharraf to parley a settlement with India on Kashmir — in whatever mode, he deems apposite, of-course with ground-realities as the nucleus of his vision vis-à-vis this volatile issue — posing perils to the global serenity.

The President — in return — reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolute, solid and steadfast commitment to the cause of Kashmir and said ‘it is central for a durable peace in South Asia’.

Speaking to an assemblage of Kashmiri leaders — who also included the apex leader, Sardar Muhammad Abdul Qayyum Khan, a fabulous and fêted name —indexed in the history of struggle for free in Jammu n’ Kashmir as an imposing n’ inspiring soul — Musharraf reiterated that Pakistan has a principled stand on Kashmir.

‘Nobody can coerce Pakistan into giving up Kashmir as country’s support for Kashmiris remains resolute’, he remarked by asking India ‘to show flexibility for resolving the dispute with amity’.

Whereas, Pakistan has aired its pragmatic viewpoint — crystal clear, it is now up to the opinion-makers in India to galvanize a conducive environ to persuade their supercilious leaders to enter into a dialogue process with Pakistan — if not for the affluence of India’s billion-plus populous — at least for peace in the region.

Perceptibly, the erudite class is fully acquainted with the truth that comity of nations is engrossed with a zest for peace in South Asia n’ even the ‘super powers’ — like the United States and European Union — stand focused for an early resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

It’s ironic that while Pakistan has taken a series of tangible steps to craft conditions positive for resumption of dialogue to address Kashmir and other longed issues with India, New Delhi is still maintaining an adamant posture and has not responded in an equivalent way.

Virtually, India has wickedly failed to even express its compliance to enter into dialogue with Pakistan so far, while President Musharraf has gone to the extent of — even offering a compromise with flexibility — by the two nuke-neighbors.

Pakistan’s unilateral cease-fire on the Line of Control is rather being misused by India by resorting to fencing the interim border.

India’s State terrorism in occupied Kashmir is unabated as innocent Kashmiri people are being brutalized by the Indian occupation forces without any let-up.

The offer of sidelining the UNSC resolutions to seek peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue is without doubt an ostracized decision, which has already evoked extensive edginess in the country.

Nonetheless, it seems that it’s Pakistan that is setting-off conciliation unilaterally — yet paradoxically — without any supportive feedback from New Delhi.

The only word — that came from India — was from Yashwant Sinha, who too did not miss the opportunity to criticize Pakistan even at a time when Islamabad is going out of the way to create congenial atmosphere for talks between leaders of the two countries on the sidelines of SAARC summit.

We are mindful that skepticism should not be allowed to overwhelm the nation, yet it will equally not be enviable to act like an ostrich.

The sentiments of the nation on such a vital issue as Kashmir should not be taken for granted.

True that tranquility is obligatory for the well-being of the people in South Asia, but the quest for peace should — in no way — pest country’s strategic interests for which the nation has rendered exceptional sacrifices.

Though ‘ground realities’ do exist — explicitly — in the post Nine/Eleven epoch, yet — No more U-turns or concessions — to India, please.

In the objective conditions, however, one can only hope that AB Vajpayee will come to Islamabad — expectantly — with some concrete framework for resolution of the outstanding issues between the two countries — with the core issue of Kashmir, atop.

At the same time, we feel optimistic that Pakistan’s top leadership shall stay in frequent touch with the bona fide leadership of Kashmiris — like the ruling AJK party, the Jammu n’ Kashmir Muslim Conference as well as the APHC, the sincere n’ eloquent voice of the people — facing an awful n’ atrocious milieu due to India’s ferocity in IHK to evaluate the jerky scenarios — for evolving requisite strategies to thwart all maneuvers of the foe.

Such a course shall have to be articulated — with a cautious n’ vigilant approaches — as a few politicians — even in some Kashmiri enclosures are still relentless in their rhetoric, ‘opposition for the sake of opposition’.

Though their insight does not go along with their supreme leader(s) — such ‘idols of polity’ are — invariably — glued with a savor to see them breathing for the electorate — at any cost, even if it negates their party-stance n’ more explicitly even it is a lavish n’ bountiful exercise n’ episode. Hence, such soul(s) are required to be kept away from every sincere n’ vital track — at least till the time they eschew their fat, fleshy, corpulent n’ egotistical mindset.

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