A glimpse into the future

‘‘This communique has already been cleared by both Pakistan and India,’’ explained the official, ‘‘this will at least ensure that the meeting will end on a pleasant note.’’

‘‘What happens if Musharraf walks out?’’ I asked, thinking of Agra.

‘‘We have ensured that the moment Musharraf shows signs of walking out, Manmohan also walks out, signalling the end of the meeting,’’ the official disclosed. ‘‘We will still release the joint communique which would make everything look hunky-dory.’’

‘‘But won’t the Pakistanis deny it,’’ I asked.

‘‘Which is the reason this has already been signed with the dates affixed,’’ explained my well-networked PMO contact, ‘‘so sad you know very little about these structured meetings.’’

‘‘Will the meeting be with aides or without them?’’ I asked.

‘‘You see if it is a meeting with aides it would be for forty-five minutes,’’ he replied. ‘‘We have decided that seven issues (six minutes per issue) would be taken up. The issues would be economic development, talks on river water pacts, confidence-building measures, cross-border terrorism, Kashmir, bus journey, cultural exchange.’’

‘‘You mean only five minutes for Kashmir?’’ I asked, wondering whether Musharraf’s core issue was being given the treatment it deserved.

‘‘We could allow Musharraf to state his position on Kashmir first but cross-border terrorism should follow immediately after that,’’ explained the PMO official. ‘‘I see no problem, after all it’s a question of give-and-take.’’

‘‘But what if it is an unstructured one-on-one?’’ I countered.

‘‘We have already prepared a format for unstructured talks along with our Pakistani counterparts,’’ the official pointed out. ‘‘At least fifteen to twenty minutes would be devoted to the personal affairs of family members of both the dignitaries. We expect a personal chemistry would be struck at the end of 30 minutes. The next 30 minutes would be on any issue, even Kashmir.’’

‘‘Could this cause any rift or tension?’’ I asked nervously.

‘‘No, that’s been taken care of,’’ was the confident retort. ‘‘At the end of the meeting, both the excellencies have been told to keep smiling before the cameras and say nothing except that the meeting was held in a cordial and warm atmosphere and pay personal compliments to each other. Musharraf could praise Manmohan’s honesty, integrity and commitment to reform. Manmohan could praise the General for his efforts to combat terrorism.’’

‘‘At the end of it, what would have been achieved?’’ I asked.

‘‘You know, nowhere in the world has structured international diplomacy succeeded as much as in the Indo-Pak subcontinent,’’ proclaimed the official, ‘‘the meeting would be a testimony to it!’’