Opinion Printline Pakistan

Backchannel diplomacy

The idea of backchannel diplomacy was also ignored by India,as Dawn reported: “He (Qureshi) said India had rejected a Pakistani proposal for the backchannel diplomacy… Yet,both sides insisted the talks were ‘positive,frank and useful’.” Daily Times quoted Krishna: “Front channels are open for diplomacy… backchannel diplomacy is not needed.” Dawn added Qureshi’s reply: “If they want a front channel,we are more than happy to do so… Pakistan had put forth this proposal to help overcome India’s reluctance to engage in open talks with Islamabad.” Daily Times,in its September 29 editorial made a three-point analysis of Pakistan’s expectations from resuming dialogue with India: “1. If Pakistan is calling for talks,what does it want from them? Does it need them to get India to move towards an overhaul of bilateral relations,or does it want a resumption of the long-stalled ‘composite dialogue’ just for the sake of talking? 2.Does Pakistan need the dialogue more than India? If that is the case,then,it will have to give ground rather than expect India to conform to strict ‘reciprocation’. 3. A re-examination of the regional status quo among the stakeholders in Pakistan must be conducted before resuming talks… If disputes are not settled,what are Pakistan’s options? The ‘composite’ dialogue ran out of wind despite the bilateral ‘equalisation’ of the nuclear test in 1998. Will it start breathing now when the world is siding with India?”

PM Yousaf Gilani added a dash of spice to this already acrid debate as The News reported on September 30: “ ‘The resolution of Kashmir is the basis for normalisation of relations with India…’ he said while addressing a huge gathering in Gilgit. The event is being described as the beginning of PPP’s campaign for the forthcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan. It was Prime Minister Gilani’s first visit to the area after it was granted internal autonomy.”

Meeting Musharraf

On September 29,The News reported that: “President Asif Zardari is said to have met former President Pervez Musharraf near New York… Reliable sources said Musharraf discussed with Zardari the name of a person whom he wants as successor to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The would-be successor is said to be a confidante of Musharraf and he could manipulate the situation to defuse the popular demand for Musharraf’s trial and help the former dictator in his re-entry into power politics. According to sources,American patrons of Zardari and Musharraf arranged their meeting. However,sources close to the president rejected the report on this secret meeting… They said it was Zardari’s strategy that forced the former dictator,Musharraf,to quit power. Zardari has no love lost for the former dictator. His detractors spread such stories to defame him. Zardari also had few other meetings with CIA and Pentagon officials…”