DATE=10/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240448
TITLE=INDIA / PAKISTAN / L-O
BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN INDIA, POLITICAL ANALYSTS SAY THE MOST-SIGNIFICANT
OUTCOME OF THE RECENTLY-CONCLUDED TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND
PAKISTAN IS THE AGREEMENT BY BOTH SIDES TO CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE.
FROM NEW DELHI, ANJANA PASRICHA HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: INDIAN POLITICAL ANALYSTS AND NEWSPAPERS SAY THEY ARE NOT
DISAPPOINTED AT THE LACK OF A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH DURING LAST
WEEK'S TALKS BETWEEN THE FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF INDIA AND
PAKISTAN. THE TWO SIDES DISCUSSED, BUT DID NOT AGREE ON ANY
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES.
FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST BRAHMA CHELLANEY, OF THE CENTER OF
POLICY RESEARCH, SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT THE OFFICIALS HAVE SET AN
AGENDA FOR FUTURE TALKS.
///CHELLANEY ACTUALITY///
IN MY VIEW, THIS IS A GOOD SIGN THAT THE TWO HAVE
MANAGED TO SORT OUT WHAT ISSUES NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AND
IN WHAT ORDER, BECAUSE, IN THE PAST, WHEN THEY HAD MET,
THEY HAD QUARRELED OVER THE MODALTIES OF DISCUSSION AND
HAVING GOT THE MODALITIES RIGHT, AND HAVING SCHEDULED
THE DISCUSSIONS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THEY ARE NOW SET
TO DO SOME SERIOUS BUSINESS.
///CHELLANEY ACTUALITY///
IN AN EDITORIAL, THE "HINDUSTAN TIMES" SAYS THE TWO NATIONS HAVE
COME TO APPRECIATE THE NEED TO AVOID A DEADLOCK OF ANY KIND. IT
SAYS LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE DISPUTED KASHMIR REGION IS NOT A
SETBACK, BECAUSE BOTH SIDES HAVE DECIDED TO PERSIST WITH THE
TALKS.
THE "HINDU" SAYS THE DIALOGUE MARKS THE RISE OF A NEW POLITICAL
REALISM IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE
WILLINGNESS TO BE LESS RIGID ON KASHMIR LIES AT THE HEART OF THE
NEW PRAGMATISM IN BOTH NATIONS.
// OPT // BUT, ACCORDING TO MR.CHELLANEY, THE TWO SIDES NEED TO
BE REALISTIC WHILE SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE KASHMIR DISPUTE.
///OPTIONAL CHELLANEY ACTUALITY///
IF EITHER OR BOTH SIDES MAKES UNDUE DEMANDS --
PARTICULARLY ON A DIFFICULT ISSUE LIKE KASHMIR -- THEN
THE TALKS ARE GOING TO GET BOGGED DOWN. THE ISSUE RIGHT
NOW IS HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WITH MORE MODEST
GOALS, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE IMPORTANT
BREAKTHROUGHS.
///END OPTIONAL ACTUALITY///
ON A MORE CRITICAL NOTE, THE "TIMES OF INDIA" HEADLINES ITS NEWS
ANALYSIS, "INDIA, PAKISTAN PLAY TO GLOBAL AUDIENCE." IT SAYS THE
RHETORIC BETWEEN THE NATIONS HAS BEEN SCALED DOWN. IT SAYS
BECAUSE BOTH WANT TO CONVINCE THE WATCHING WORLD, THE BILATERAL
TALKS ARE SINCERE.
HOWEVER, OTHER COMMENTATORS FEEL INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE COULD
PERSUADE BOTH SIDES TO NEGOTIATE SERIOUSLY. THE NEXT ROUND OF
TALKS IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN NEW DELHI IN FEBRUARY. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
20-Oct-98 6:14 AM EDT (1014 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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