Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'UN is our last hope' that was published in Newsband

UN is our last hope

The Directors-General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan had met recently. Their face-to-face interaction gives the hope that the two sides can still settle differences in a sensible manner.

This year marked the 10^th anniversary of the ceasefire on the Line of Control. But the sad thing is that during this period the number of ceasefire violations has exceeded 200. That has affected our bilateral relationship and the peace process. This is a sad commentary on the state of bilateral ties. It is necessary for both the countries to take stern steps towards normalisation on the LoC. If such meetings can bring an end to incessant firing across the LoC which has jeopardized life in valley then it is much welcomed.

With a general election in India due both sides could be waiting to see as to who will form the next government. India-Pakistan ties have been turned into hot political issue over the last few years. There is no denying fact that one who suffers most is none but common man. With the tension rising across the line a sense of fear and disappointment is felt by common man.

To maintain a peaceful relationship with the neighboring country we should welcome this kind of meetings. First and foremost, we have to change the attitude with which we look at each other. The media on both sides should act

with maturity by not making any provocative statements on Indo-Pak relationship.

As this long pending peace issue can only be solved in peaceful environment, the political bodies on both the sides will need to show tremendous will. They should keep aside their political interests in their home land, because as long as the issue is viewed as an item in political campaign to secure votes, this issue will never end.

The prime minister, the army chief, the ISI chief, and the terrorist outfits of Pakistan should come together and declare peace with India forever. There is no point in coming to any kind of agreement with just one out of the above four.

Both parties have to sit together to bring out an acceptable resolution. In Pakistan, many organizations are only using Kashmir conflict as an issue and they justify their ill intentions to wage jihad. This phenomenon of self-declared jihad should be controlled.

It is understood that without political will neither side can achieve political goals. We have seen in the past that whenever peace process was initiated between the two countries it was derailed. The important thing is that the main issue of Kashmir should be resolved. Both countries should get into bilateral talks so as to solve the core issue of Kashmir.