Even more significantly, the Bush Administration has welcomed India’s growing economic profile in Afghanistan and is encouraging New Delhi to undertake greater political responsibilities in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan.

For Karzai and Musharraf, the long-term strategy of economic development rests on their ability to convert Afghanistan and Pakistan as bridge states between Central Asia and the sub-continent.

Last month in his speech at Amritsar, Singh talked about the prospects of renewing the old trading links between India and Pakistan on the one hand and the Persian Gulf and Central Asia on the other and making the borders in the region mere lines on the map.

The problem, however, has been in the mixed signals emanating from Pakistan.

A few days ago, Musharraf told a meeting of the military commanders that Pakistan must emerge as a trading hub in the region. While such a role would indeed be welcome to New Delhi and Kabul, they remain unconvinced about a real change in Islamabad’s approach.

For more than two decades, Pakistan has remained the source of extremism and terrorism in the region. While Musharraf has promised since the dramatic events of September 11, 2001 that he would counter the forces of destabilisation, New Delhi and Kabul remain unimpressed with the General’s willingness and ability to deliver on the ground.

India and Afghanistan are not the only ones skeptical about Musharraf’s policies. So are the US and the international community who have a high stake in the stability of Karzai’s Afghanistan and an improved Indo-Pak relationship.

... contd.