‘India must respond to Pakistan’s latest overtures’
DM Monitoring

LONDON—The prestigious British daily ‘The Times has urged India to respond to President Pervez Musharraf overture’s for the resolution of the Kashmir issue which he put forward in an interview with an Indian TV channel and said the Indian leadership is in danger of missing the historic opportunity for a breakthrough.
In an editorial appearing on Tuesday, the paper said President’s proposal in a television interview to drop Pakistan’s call for an independent Kashmir and his readiness to accept a settlement that would give the disputed territory a large measure of autonomy is a significant concession.
Describing President Musharraf as an adroit politician, the paper wrote he has addressed specifically to an Indian audience and comes just before the visit to Islamabad by the Indian Foreign Minister next month and the likely visit later of Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister. General Musharraf is sending a clear signal to Delhi that he wants to press ahead with a slow-moving peace process, and is ready to take initiatives.
The proposal he put forward on Indian television is similar to what is known in the region as the “Andorra solution”. This would leave the disputed territory with a large measure of self-government, but without full independent sovereignty. Both its neighbours would have a guaranteed right to a say in its affairs — as France and Spain have in Andorra — and each would renounce its claim to sole control, the sticking point in more than half a century of protracted and largely fruitless talks.
Unfortunately, this was not matched by any significant change in India’s negotiating position. It made no offer to withdraw troops, offer Kashmir greater autonomy or give greater weight to talks with local Hurriyat Conference separatists.
India is in danger of misreading President Musharraf’s position. But it refuses to see how great a risk he is taking in making any concession on Kashmir, an issue fundamental to Pakistan’s conception of itself and its Muslim identity. It takes a brave man to a make a realistic adjustment to policy in the face of public opinion, especially if he is trying to curb support simultaneously for the Taliban and for Kashmir “freedom fighters”.
India needs to look for policy announcements on Kashmir that would give General Musharraf evidence of negotiating success to show his opponents.
Unfortunately, Delhi seems in little hurry to do so. It has been content simply to pocket the concessions and stick to its line. Delhi believes that its growing world strength and close relations with Washington allow it to hang tough, and says it has done enough by keeping talks going.
Diplomats may understand the need for reciprocity; India’s politicians, facing elections next year and with a nationalist BJP Opposition ready to attack any concession, feel too weak to do so. They are in danger of missing an historic opportunity for a breakthrough, the editorial concluded.