India-Pakistan Relations: Amid Lull in Ties, Track-II Diplomacy Revived via Neemrana Dialogue
Unlike other track-II initiatives, Neemrana has an official character as both the Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministries have associated themselves with the dialogue process in the past.
New Delhi, May 1: In what signals the shift from 'no talk' policy with Pakistan, an Indian delegation comprising of former top bureaucrats visited Islamabad between April 28-30 to attend a meeting under the Neemrana Dialogue process -- a track-II diplomacy initiative dating back to 1991-92.
The Indian delegation comprised of former MEA secretary Vivek Katju, ex-head of NCERT, JS Rajput and a couple of retired military officials, reports said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Pakistan was represented by former foreign secretaries Inam ul Haque and Ishrat Hussain, among others.
Unlike other track-II initiatives, Neemrana has an official character as both the Indian and Pakistani Foreign Ministries have associated themselves with the non-governmental dialogue process in the past.
Former Indian envoy to Pakistan, TCA Raghavan claims Neemrana has a "more India-Pakistan character". Other track II initiatives, he said, are "mostly funded by third parties".
Despite the meet holding relevance in the backdrop of the deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan, former Indian foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal says it would fail to "bring any significant result" at this point of time.
Sibal, while speaking to TOI, said he chose not to be part of the delegation which travelled to Pakistan. "I didn't go because I don't think it would yield significant results in the current circumstances," he said. The ex-diplomat, however, clarified that both sides should continue to keep the tradition of track-II process alive.
Experts claim the lull in Indo-Pakistan ties is unlikely to get over till both the nations go to the next general polls. While the elections for the national assembly will be held in Pakistan in July, India is expected to hold the Lok Sabha polls in April-May next year.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2018 09:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).