Everybody146;s peace

It has been clear that the challenge lies in weaving the Islamabad Declaration into a patient process. And that it will require enormous clear sightedness and resolve on both sides. If Musharraf8217;s first ever address to Pakistan8217;s Parliament is any indication, there may be reason to keep the hope. Pakistan8217;s president reiterated his government8217;s commitment to hold up his side of the pact reached earlier this month 8212; to root out terrorism, permanently. This time the K-word adorned a pledge to search for a solution with 8216;8216;sincerity8217;8217; and 8216;8216;good intentions8217;8217;. Significantly, the general made adroit and bold use of the much-misused concept of jehad: a holy war must be waged, he urged, against the extremists. He pointed out that the majority of the Pakistani people are moderates; they must not be held hostage to a small section that also weakens the country from within.

The message from Islamabad is heartening, again. That the general found the right words before a domestic 8212; and raucously sceptical 8212; audience of elected representatives will certainly reassure all those in India who have fearfully waited for the slideback that has inevitably cramped past efforts towards peace. But the message from Islamabad also brings with it a new responsibility. In the run up to general elections in this country, all parties in the fray must protect the fledgling peace process from irresponsible politics. So far, it has been fairly obvious that the process being helmed by Vajpayee is vested with a larger political consensus. But for this general agreement to survive the temptations and seductions of poll-eve grandstanding, there is need for its joint ownership to be spelt out more clearly, more openly. Parties across the spectrum must leave no room for doubt or petty manouevre. If Pakistan figures in elections this time, it must only be to agree on the need to build more durable bridges to a shared future.

There is a choice, post-Islamabad. As the prime minister put it recently, it is to move forward or to remain mired in 8216;8216;suspicion and hostility8217;8217;. That8217;s pretty much a non-choice, really, election or no election.