Sensing the opportunity for a path-breaking peace initiative in the subcontinent, Senator Barack Obama, widely expected to win the US presidential elections, might consider the appointment of former President Bill Clinton as a special envoy on Jammu and Kashmir.

In a recent expansive interview to Joe Klein of 'Time' magazine, Obama said he has sounded out Clinton, who has had first-hand experience dealing with the Subcontinent. Clinton had played a role in ending Pakistan’s occupation of the Kargil heights in J&K in the summer of 1999.

Clinton’s visit to India in 2000 March marked a positive turn in bilateral relations, and the former President has maintained warm relations with the Indian leadership through frequent visits to New Delhi since he stepped down in January 2001.

When asked specifically about Clinton playing a role in redefining Pakistan’s relations with India, Obama said, “Might not be bad. I actually talked to Bill, I talked to President Clinton about this when we had lunch” at Harlem in New York recently.

While Obama’s destination of a peaceful subcontinent is not very different from that of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the two could easily fall out of step on mapping the appropriate pathway.

India has never been comfortable with third-party mediation in Kashmir, and will not embrace the idea of a high profile Special Envoy, even if the job goes to a friendly Clinton.

If Obama does get elected tonight, the PM might have a chance to engage him during his visit to Washington later this month to join the international summit on the global financial crisis convened by the outgoing President George W. Bush.

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