It is also significant that the two leaders have explicitly asked the Foreign Secretaries to take the lead in clinching the agreements on such issues as Siachen and Sir Creek.

It is the personal leadership of Singh, however, that will remain the enduring signal from Havana today. Unlike the last time, when Singh could not hold a quiet private conversation with Musharraf, this time it was the Indian Prime Minister who appears to have led the negotiations with the General.

And quiet conversations between his envoys and Musharraf in the last two weeks appears to have pre-negotiated the joint statement as well as a road map for an early visit by Singh to Pakistan.

While India had its way on getting Pakistan to publicly state that it will walk its talk on terror, India also went some distance to make the statement palatable to Pakistan. As Point 4 of the statement goes: the “leaders decided to continue the joint search for a peaceful negotiated settlement of all issues between India and Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, in a sincere and peaceful manner.”

The statement goes on to say that “on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, there have been useful discussions” and that, “there is a need to build on convergences and narrow down differences.” India also got Pakistan to remain committed to to all joint statements so far, that is to what was agreed after the January 2004, September 2004, April and then September 2005 meetings.

... contd.