Mukherjee’s visit appears to have resulted in a broad understanding on intensifying the peace process in the coming weeks. This will include an acceleration of the back channel negotiations on J&K, initiating the fourth round of the composite dialogue, quick settlements on Siachen and Sir Creek, institutionalising the proposed cooperation on counter-terrorism, deepening nuclear confidence-building measures, and easing travel between the two countries. If the new script unfolds as planned, Dr Singh should start packing his bags for the long overdue visit to Pakistan and prepare to announce with Musharraf some major breakthroughs on J&K.

Unlike the peace process with Pakistan, which is fragile and accident prone, the engagement with China has been more robust. While both sides are pleased with the expanding partnership, they have acknowledged that an early resolution of the boundary dispute is necessary to elevate the relationship to a truly strategic level. The settlement on the 3600 km long border now hangs on finding a way out of the stalemate on the small Tawang tract in Arunachal Pradesh. While China is seeking territorial concessions in Tawang, Dr Singh told Chinese President Hu Jintao last November that India was in no position to make them. As India awaits new ideas from Beijing in this week’s boundary talks, the signals from the meeting between Dr Singh and Wen in the Philippines are encouraging. Together, the two leaders have reportedly urged the two special representatives to “negotiate with greater vigour and innovativeness”.

In the negotiations with both Pakistan and China, the key word must be ‘innovation’. If he chooses to retain his boldness, Dr Singh has the opportunity to liberate India from its enduring two-front problem. The continual and often simultaneous confrontation with Pakistan and China has been the principal strategic problem in India’s national security strategy since Independence. A breakthrough on either or both could unleash India’s diplomatic, political and military energies to play a larger role in the region and the world. More immediately, progress in either of these negotiations could help reinforce advance on the other. Because solutions on both fronts must necessarily finesse traditional notions of territorial sovereignty and create imaginative trans-border institutional mechanisms. For the first time in its history, India is in a position to turn the two-front problem on its head.