Of course, the winter months are the season for diplomacy in Kashmir. Freezing temperatures and heavy snow on the mountains make it much harder for militants to cross into Indian Kashmir, and much more gruelling for the soldiers of the Indian and Pakistani armies, who, until the latest ceasefire, were shelling each other every day. The last rapprochement between the two sides was in February 1999, when Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met Mr Vajpayee in Lahore and both promised a new era of peace and negotiations. Within three months, the snow in Kashmir had melted and the fighting began again in the Kargil heights, almost pushing the countries into yet another war. Now Pakistan is pushing New Delhi to grant passports and visas to Kashmiri political leaders from the All Parties Hurriyat conference, so they can travel to Islamabad for talks on the area's future.
Huge problems lie ahead.
Islamabad still wants Kashmir to be part of Pakistan, but many Kashmiris would rather rule themselves under a degree of independence from India. Pakistan cannot risk the wrath of its own religious right by withdrawing support for the militants fighting in Kashmir. Involvement of the people of Kashmir in a political process is the answer to a reduction of militancy. Pakistan is today marking a day of solidarity with those opposing Indian rule in Kashmir. The general and the prime minister have had their first telephone call.