•Was New Delhi prepared for this?

Well, it wasn’t surprised. Musharraf’s fall was imminent the day he decided to give up Army Chief’s job. India’s assessment: he would weaken, authority would be fragmented. So it maintained contact with all political parties and in May when Pranab Mukherjee visited Pak after elections, he met Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari. The two Prime Ministers also met in Colombo earlier this month. In China for the Olympics opening ceremony, Sonia met Bhutto’s son Bilawal.

•Will Musharraf’s exit change the New Delhi-Islamabad engagement?

Too early to say but one thing clear: too many uncertainties. Few know how the ruling coalition can impact Army and ISI which control Pak attitudes on Kashmir, Afghanistan and terror. First signs of drift are there: Kabul Embassy attack, resurgent Taliban, LoC incidents. Don’t expect rapid forward movement on tricky issues.

•What happens to mechanisms put in place as part of the peace process?

These will continue and there are so many pending proposals that both sides have enough work on their table for a while. Delhi will continue with engagement and would, in fact, show added commitment to foster stronger ties with the new leadership in Islamabad.

•Nawaz and Zardari are distancing themselves from the US. What does it mean?

They have a political compulsion to do so and Delhi understands that. On critical issues, India hopes US can prevail. Particularly, when it comes to strengthening political control over the Army, the ISI, security of its nuclear weapons.

... contd.