The NDA government seems now in no mood to take an official engagement with Pakistan but, in the sector of some forward movement, it seems to have given its nod to reviving the Track II diplomacy process alongside its western neighbor.
The original Track II initiative, Neemrana Dialogue, received a new beginning with a high-powered delegation of previous Indian diplomats, military veterans, and academics traveling to Pakistan in order to discuss ways by which India-Pak relationship can be improved.
The delegation was headed by former MEA secretary and Pakistan expert Vivek Katju. J S Rajput, former NCERT head, who was a vital part of this delegation.
The discussion started on 28th April and continues till 30th April. Pakistan was represented by former foreign secretary Inam ul Haque and Ishrat Hussain in this meeting.
While like other track II mechanisms, Neemrana is also a non-governmental dialogue, which is very different from others in that both foreign ministries who shares some past association with themselves also.
India will wait to see the result of the next elections in Pakistan before taking any call on official talks with Islamabad.
Via the revival of Neemrana would be advised that policy of not having any engagement with Pakistan has run its course.
“There have been other track II initiatives but these were mostly funded by third parties. Neemrana had more India-Pakistan character,” said former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan T C A Raghavan.
The Former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, who is a member of the Neemrana group, decided not to visit Pakistan for the dialogue.
Tough, he said that Neemrana was a significant initiative which had even survived in also in some hard times regarding the relationship.
“Neemrana has had a tough time over the past few years. Both sides felt though that it was important to keep alive that tradition but I didn’t go because I don’t think it would yield significant results in the current circumstances,” said Sibal.
Official sour