Resetting the thermostat

This significance could be soon lost if it is not buttressed by political and diplomatic measures.

The prompt Pakistani response announcing the withdrawal of its military forces back to peacetime locations is to be welcomed. General Pervez Musharraf has been repeatedly asking for de-escalation, and the current developments should open up opportunities for reducing tensions in the overall relationship.

Militarily, the withdrawal of Pakistani strike formations back to their peacetime locations was critical if the existing confrontation was to be rolled back. Pakistan army’s strike formations staying on in operational locations on the border after the Indian forces have withdrawn would have led to a highly unstable and potentially dangerous situation.

As it is, the Pakistani armoured forces are located much closer to the international border during peacetime than the Indian army’s strike formations. Any delay by Islamabad in announcing appropriate reciprocal measures would have only fuelled avoidable suspicions. It should now be possible for regular communications and dialogue between the two military headquarters to avoid any potential misunderstandings.

Meanwhile, New Delhi would do well to ponder over the political and diplomatic steps to be taken, especially its stated position of not holding talks with Pakistan. It is true that the level of terrorism has not come down in any meaningful way. It is also true that very little may be achieved by such a dialogue since the respective positions have extremely limited flexibility available.

At the same time, unless the intention is to cut off normal relations with Pakistan for all time to come, dialogue and efforts to nudge it towards a normal relationship would remain an important concern. The central point, therefore, should not be whether dialogue with Pakistan is to be held or not, but rather the goals and levels of such dialogue. Political summitry would be a faraway goal.

But if Pakistan is agreeable, then military-to-military dialogue could commence to handle the practical aspects of de-escalation. This could be followed by official level talks to re-open communications and normal diplomatic activities.