Although official sources maintained that no immediate breakthrough is expected in the Indo-Pak dialogue, the fact is that both sides are pushing for withdrawal of troops from the Saltoro ridge overlooking the Siachen Glacier.

However, New Delhi wants Islamabad to recognize, even through technical means, the Indian Army’s positions on the ridge and the glacier in the overall agreement. The back-channel parleys are focused on that and this has even been acknowledged by Pakistan Foreign Minister Kurshid Kasuri during his recent trip to Delhi.

All the same, official sources still believe in “baby steps” in the accident-prone Indo-Pak engagement road as Islamabad is still not amenable to opening the Jammu-Sialkote and Kargil-Skardu route, just as New Delhi rules out any significant withdrawal of security forces from Kashmir before there is a tangible, significant change in violence levels in the Valley.