The Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan: Structure, Process and Agency, 2012
The roots of the Composite Dialogue Process date back to May 1997, when at Male, the capital of M... more The roots of the Composite Dialogue Process date back to May 1997, when at Male, the capital of Maldives, the then Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif mooted the idea of a structured dialogue or the Composite Dialogue Process (CDP). Based on a compromise approach, the peace process enabled the two countries to discuss all issues including Jammu and Kashmir, simultaneously. Since its inception, the dialogue process has gone through numerous highs and lows in bilateral relations. It has remained susceptible to unforeseen incidents which have derailed the process several times in the past. However, since April 2003 it has progressed steadily till the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks when the dialogue process was suspended for a long time. This paper dwells upon the history of the peace process since its inception in 1997 and examines the progress made in the eight baskets of issues namely, Peace and Security including confidence building measures(CBMs); Jammu and Kashmir (J&K); Siachen; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; Sir Creek; Economic and Commercial Cooperation; Terrorism and Drug Trafficking; and, Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in various fields. The analysis of the peace process in this paper hinges on three key questions. First, has any positive change in the mindset of both sides came about over the years due to the peace process? Second, what were the main achievements of CDP? And third, what are the prospects of resolving the pending bilateral issues in future talks?
The India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir is one of the most intractable disputes in the contempora... more The India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir is one of the most intractable disputes in the contemporary world. Generally, both countries have pursued policies that revolved around their concerns about territoriality and sovereignty over Kashmir. However, in the last decade or so particularly after the revival of Composite Dialogue process in 2004, both countries are moving slowly from the state-centric to a people-centric approach by encouraging movement of people, goods and ideas across the heavily militarized Line of Control (LOC). One significant development in recent years has been the beginning of Cross-LoC trade in October 2008. It was 65 years ago in 1947 that trade across LoC had stopped. This paper deals with the nitty-gritty of Cross-LoC trade. It examines how business entities and individuals in the state view trade transactions with the other side and perceptions about the economic viability of Cross-LoC trade. It also investigates into the problems and prospects of conducting this duty free trade. Cross-LoC travel and trade has the potential to create transformational spaces which will help ease tensions over Kashmir and bring in the people of state to the centre stage in addressing the Kashmir issue.
Indian and Pakistani militaries have been occupying the Siachen Glacier and surrounding regions f... more Indian and Pakistani militaries have been occupying the Siachen Glacier and surrounding regions for decades. Although a ceasefire is in place since November 2003, continued occupation carries the risk of an inadvertent conflict, which could escalate into a full-fledged nuclear-backed confrontation. Political and military analysts in India, Pakistan and abroad now question the strategic significance of the Siachen Glacier and agree that under the right circumstances, military withdrawal from the Siachen Glacier region would not adversely affect either state. The Siachen glacier was once considered a no man's land as it was left out in both Karachi (1949) and Shimla (1972) agreements, which demarcated border between India and Pakistan. Siachen is a veritable nightmare even for the experienced mountaineers, who have to traverse the glacier to climb the icy peaks. Yet Indian and Pakistani forces are battling 24 h a day to gain control of the range. In this paper the author narrates the utter uselessness of continuing the conflict any further at the cost of socioeconomic development. Besides, the continued military presence has deteriorated the pristine beauty and ecological balance of the region.
Until India and Pakistan became independent in 1947 from the British, they not only formed one po... more Until India and Pakistan became independent in 1947 from the British, they not only formed one political entity but also one integrated economy. Greater Punjab was one economic entity for centuries before partition bi-furcated it between India and Pakistan in 1947. Karachi and Bombay were tightly knit sister cities on the sea under the same administrative unit of Bombay Presidency. Today these regions are all but severed. At the time of partition, both India and Pakistan were highly dependent on each other for trade. From 1947 to 1965, the two countries entered into several trade agreements. These agreements covered avoidance of double taxation, trade in goods, food items, trade facilitation, border trade, air services and banking. The spirit of pragmatism at this time led to an arrangement under which Pakistan exported grain from Sindh to deficit provinces of India and India exported flour to East Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan had bank branches in each other’s country. In 1965, war broke out between the two countries and trade and economic relations became causalities of war. The aim of this paper is to look into the nature of bilateral trade relationship from 1947 to 1965. Even the 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan had limited impact on the bilateral trade. It is intriguing to know how both countries, irrespective of economic complementarities, continue to squeeze the bilateral trade. The unresolved issue of Kashmir acts as a stumbling block in the regional economic integration in South Asia.
The Composite Dialogue between India and Pakistan: Structure, Process and Agency, 2012
The roots of the Composite Dialogue Process date back to May 1997, when at Male, the capital of M... more The roots of the Composite Dialogue Process date back to May 1997, when at Male, the capital of Maldives, the then Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif mooted the idea of a structured dialogue or the Composite Dialogue Process (CDP). Based on a compromise approach, the peace process enabled the two countries to discuss all issues including Jammu and Kashmir, simultaneously. Since its inception, the dialogue process has gone through numerous highs and lows in bilateral relations. It has remained susceptible to unforeseen incidents which have derailed the process several times in the past. However, since April 2003 it has progressed steadily till the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks when the dialogue process was suspended for a long time. This paper dwells upon the history of the peace process since its inception in 1997 and examines the progress made in the eight baskets of issues namely, Peace and Security including confidence building measures(CBMs); Jammu and Kashmir (J&K); Siachen; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; Sir Creek; Economic and Commercial Cooperation; Terrorism and Drug Trafficking; and, Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in various fields. The analysis of the peace process in this paper hinges on three key questions. First, has any positive change in the mindset of both sides came about over the years due to the peace process? Second, what were the main achievements of CDP? And third, what are the prospects of resolving the pending bilateral issues in future talks?
The India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir is one of the most intractable disputes in the contempora... more The India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir is one of the most intractable disputes in the contemporary world. Generally, both countries have pursued policies that revolved around their concerns about territoriality and sovereignty over Kashmir. However, in the last decade or so particularly after the revival of Composite Dialogue process in 2004, both countries are moving slowly from the state-centric to a people-centric approach by encouraging movement of people, goods and ideas across the heavily militarized Line of Control (LOC). One significant development in recent years has been the beginning of Cross-LoC trade in October 2008. It was 65 years ago in 1947 that trade across LoC had stopped. This paper deals with the nitty-gritty of Cross-LoC trade. It examines how business entities and individuals in the state view trade transactions with the other side and perceptions about the economic viability of Cross-LoC trade. It also investigates into the problems and prospects of conducting this duty free trade. Cross-LoC travel and trade has the potential to create transformational spaces which will help ease tensions over Kashmir and bring in the people of state to the centre stage in addressing the Kashmir issue.
Indian and Pakistani militaries have been occupying the Siachen Glacier and surrounding regions f... more Indian and Pakistani militaries have been occupying the Siachen Glacier and surrounding regions for decades. Although a ceasefire is in place since November 2003, continued occupation carries the risk of an inadvertent conflict, which could escalate into a full-fledged nuclear-backed confrontation. Political and military analysts in India, Pakistan and abroad now question the strategic significance of the Siachen Glacier and agree that under the right circumstances, military withdrawal from the Siachen Glacier region would not adversely affect either state. The Siachen glacier was once considered a no man's land as it was left out in both Karachi (1949) and Shimla (1972) agreements, which demarcated border between India and Pakistan. Siachen is a veritable nightmare even for the experienced mountaineers, who have to traverse the glacier to climb the icy peaks. Yet Indian and Pakistani forces are battling 24 h a day to gain control of the range. In this paper the author narrates the utter uselessness of continuing the conflict any further at the cost of socioeconomic development. Besides, the continued military presence has deteriorated the pristine beauty and ecological balance of the region.
Until India and Pakistan became independent in 1947 from the British, they not only formed one po... more Until India and Pakistan became independent in 1947 from the British, they not only formed one political entity but also one integrated economy. Greater Punjab was one economic entity for centuries before partition bi-furcated it between India and Pakistan in 1947. Karachi and Bombay were tightly knit sister cities on the sea under the same administrative unit of Bombay Presidency. Today these regions are all but severed. At the time of partition, both India and Pakistan were highly dependent on each other for trade. From 1947 to 1965, the two countries entered into several trade agreements. These agreements covered avoidance of double taxation, trade in goods, food items, trade facilitation, border trade, air services and banking. The spirit of pragmatism at this time led to an arrangement under which Pakistan exported grain from Sindh to deficit provinces of India and India exported flour to East Pakistan. Both India and Pakistan had bank branches in each other’s country. In 1965, war broke out between the two countries and trade and economic relations became causalities of war. The aim of this paper is to look into the nature of bilateral trade relationship from 1947 to 1965. Even the 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan had limited impact on the bilateral trade. It is intriguing to know how both countries, irrespective of economic complementarities, continue to squeeze the bilateral trade. The unresolved issue of Kashmir acts as a stumbling block in the regional economic integration in South Asia.
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