relationship. But they would be wrong. As developments in the post-Cold War period have shown in South Africa, Northern Ireland and the Middle East, turning points in history are made partly by extraneous events and partly by good statesmanship. Political leaders need to read shifts in the public mood as well as nurture them in order to move ahead. They need to open up opportunities and to seize them when they occur. Thankfully, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif seem to be doing just that by looking ahead and not allowing themselves to be arrested in the past. Vajpayee who went all out to make sure India and Pakistan met after a decade-long gap on the cricket pitch, and Nawaz Sharif who said in an interview to this newspaper that there arefew votes in confrontation, are reading the signs right.

Shuttle diplomacy, South Asian-style, is an idea whose time may have come. The two prime ministers have been talking regularly on the phone, so a trip together on the Delhi-Lahore bus might not be a bad thing, as suggested by Vajpayee when he announced his intention to be in the bus on its inaugural run. Think of how busloads of serious intent crisscrossing the border would play in both countries. At any rate, Sharif's proposal, articulated clearly for the first time, on direct bilateral talks at a high political level on nuclear/missile issues deserves serious thought. The nuclear situation in the subcontinent must be stabilised through confidence-building treaties and agreements. An essential part of the process is bringing about greater transparency and therefore predictability in nuclear and military postures.

There is no way of doing this other than by establishing a regular mechanism for interaction, the go-ahead for which has to come fromthe prime ministers.

Firm political direction is the need of the hour to advance the dialogue in other areas as well. After the status quoist talks between official delegations last year on the range of outstanding issues, from Siachen to the Wullar barrage, only the political leadership can clear the logjam. Without those efforts the talks scheduled for this month could turn out to be as unproductive as before. For a start, it is important to focus on what is achievable in the short term. The resolution of one or more of the items on the agenda, identified by the political leadership, should be sought through continuing, unbroken discussions between experts on both sides. Sir Creek is one example of where definite progress can be made given the political will. Let's see progress on the sale of electricity from Pakistan to India's northern grid before another summer is out. A standstill or a process lurching uncertainly in this or that direction is exactly what India and Pakistan do not need at this time ofheightened public expectations. New Delhi and Islamabad must look for a breakthrough to maintain the momentum.