Since then, both countries have been on a roller coaster ride, including nuclear weapon tests, an extraordinary summit meeting in Lahore, and the undeclared war this summer along the northern reaches of the Line of Control. After this undeclared war, trust is in short supply in South Asia. The newly elected Indian government headed by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee has said that it is willing to resume substantive dialogue with Pakistan, but that Pakistan's support for militancy across the Line of Control must subside. This is a reasonable position. The new Chief Executive of Pakistan, General Musharraf, has stated his willingness to resume substantive dialogue with India.
Bilateral dialogue is likely to resume.
Whether these talks are serious or pro forma will depend, in large part, on whether Pakistan and India re-evaluate their separate but interlocking Kashmir policies. If these talks remain rooted in mutually reinforcing one-track strategies, we will continue to witness a dialogue of the deaf. Meanwhile, nuclear capabilties are growing, along with political alienation in Kashmir and centrifugal forces within Pakistan. Return to the South Asia Page Return to the Confidence-Building Measures Project Page.