In the annals of history lie not just the roots of mistrust, but also routes to reconciliation. In recommending that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh jointly celebrate the 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee proposed a new mode of partnership. On his last visit to Pakistan — to Lahore in 1999 — he had reminded his hosts and his countrypeople back home that there’s no changing geography. At the SAARC summit in Islamabad this weekend, he seemed to be emphasising the need to heed history. ‘‘History can remind us, guide us, teach us or warn us,’’ he said. ‘‘It should not shackle us. We have to look forward now, with a collective approach in mind.’’ To bridge cleavages in a distant neighbourhood, the prime minister pointed his SAARC counterparts to shared history. He referred to a complex and troubled colonial legacy; but he also sought to demonstrate that there exists a common legacy of joint struggles and aspirations. At first blush, the atmospherics in Islamabad are heartening. Vajpayee eschewed any direct mention of cross-border terrorism that could have set off a familiar domino effect of Pakistani counter-accusations. Instead, he stressed the need to bury petty rivalries and cash in on the peace dividend. In tandem, Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali refrained from reciting that old Kashmir-is-the-core-issue chant. He too pointed to the larger achievements of the SAARC summit by reckoning that greater economic integration is crucial to the creation of a political climate of peace and stability. Beyond the duly noted gestures and body language, Jamali introduced a warmth not seen in bilateral exchanges since Vajpayee’s Lahore bus ride. He referred to his Indian counterpart as a visionary, a poet and an able politician. It is taking all those attributes for Vajpayee to extend this season of hope. Therein lies cause for cheer. In step with the opportunities offered by the timing of the SAARC meet and the comfort zone of wider regional pacts, an Indo-Pak matrix for cooperation and dialogue is being assembled. Cooperation and dialogue have acquired muscle as much with consensus on a South Asian Free Trade Area and a Social Charter as with the promise of more cordial, less hyped meetings between Indian and Pakistani leaders and officials. It would not take a game theorist to show that peace is not a zero-sum game. Certainly, Vajpayee hinted as much when he advised the region to be guided by history.
