THE high hopes that were raised during the run-up to the summit meeting between President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee have been dashed. Yet, despite the disappointment of not moving forward towards a possible resolution of any of the major issues, it will be incorrect to term the talks as a failure.

It is evident that sufficient preparations, on part  of the government of India for the success of the summit, were not made beforehand. Even no specific agenda was decided upon. According to the government of India's version, Musharraf was not keen to specify the agenda  for negotiations. No doubt, both sides did not budge from their respective stands on the issues concerned, the contentious ones being cross-border terrorism for India and Kashmir for Pakistan. But the success of the talks lies in the fact that both countries have understood each others viewpoint better. This will definitely help in the next round of negotiations. It is also no mean achievement that bilateral dialogue has commenced after a pause of many years.

That both countries realise that negotiations are the only way out and have understood each other better is revealed by the fact that the foreign ministers of both India and Pakistan did not want to call the talks a failure. They emphasised that it was a continuation of  the process of dialogue and pointed to the acceptance of President Musharrafs invitation to Prime Minister Vajpayee to visit Pakistan.

At a press conference on return to Islamabad, foreign minister Abdul Sattar emphatically said that President Musharraf had "returned from India optimistic of better relations between India and Pakistan." He also added that the summit was "inconclusive" but "did not fail" Sattar said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had succeeded in covering a lot of ground. "It is unfortunate  that the expected conciliation could not materialise. Nevertheless, the president remains convinced that the existing goodwill on both sides can and will achieve the mutually-desired results," he said.

Indias external affairs minister, Jaswant Singh,  said the efforts for peace would continue and that the Agra summit was part of the continuous effort on India's part. He said: "We are disappointed that the two sides could not arrive at an agreed text. Our focus has to remain on the totality of relationship; our endeavour to build trust  and confidence, and a mutually beneficial relationship even as we address and move forward on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, building upon the existing compacts of Simla and Lahore."

The disappointment following the talks is overwhelming in both countries. There is an increasing realisation that progress in bilateral relations is essential for the well being and advance of the peoples of both countries.

The failure to arrive at any conclusion and move towards resolving the outstanding issues lies in the unyielding stance of the Pakistani delegation, which sought to discuss Kashmir primarily. India, on the other hand, wanted to discuss all other issues like cross-border  terrorism, trade and commerce, POWs etc. While the Indian side emphasised on taking other issues alongside the Kashmir issue, the Pakistani side felt otherwise. For President Musharraf, all other issues were linked with the resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Ever since President Musharraf accepted Vajpayee's invitation, he has been carrying on a relentless campaign through the media stating that the "core issue" is Kashmir. To make the point more explicit, Pakistan High Commission invited the Hurriyat Conference to a tea par ty hosted in honour of the visiting president. The president also had a separate meeting with the Hurriyat leaders before the tea party.

India, on the other hand, acknowledges that Kashmir  is one among the major issues that has to be discussed with Pakistan. It  is in this context that cross-border terrorism also becomes relevant. It  is unfortunate that the Pakistani side did not agree to taking up other related issues. Resolution of other outstanding issues could have created  the necessary atmosphere for dialogue and improving relations.

In fact, Pakistan views the Kashmir issue from the viewpoint of the two-nation theory, which is unacceptable to India. On the other hand, Pakistan's support and encouragement to cross-border terrorism has cost thousands of lives in the Kashmir valley. Not a day passes when some people are not killed in the valley or outside. The insurgents are not only Kashmiri youth who had crossed across the border for arms training. They include the Afghan militants who are talibanising Afghanistan. It is unacceptable if the president compares the terrorist intruders in  the valley with the Palestinians fighting for their homeland or even calling them freedom fighters.

The refusal of the Pakistan president to take up other bilateral issues alongwith Kashmir is not acceptable to the democratic opinion in Pakistan either. While Pakistan will make efforts to lay the  blame on India's door, there is a growing realisation within that country that improving relations with India will be beneficial for both countries.

The press briefing by information and broadcasting m inister Mrs Sushma Swaraj, who listed all other issues that were discussed except Kashmir, and President's Musharraf's version in the breakfast interaction with leading presspersons the next morning also contributed to  the damage. It goes without saying that the restraint shown by India prior to the summit should have been carried through the summit also.

Whatever the outcome, the talks were a reflection of the deep urge among the people of both countries for making an attempt t o break the impasse and overcome the bitterness that has crept into the relationship between the two neighbours. The talks have emphasised that bilateral dialogue between the two countries is essential to sort out all outstanding problems. The acceptance of the invitation by Vajpayee to visit Islamabad is a step forward towards progress in this bilateral dialogue.  The high level of optimism that marked the atmosphere before the Agra summit has given way to disappointment on both sides. Even while Vajpayee goes to Islamabad with hope, he will have to go well prepared. The Pakistani side too will have to do the necessary groundwork in advance. There is no likelihood of both countries easily changing their stands on the issues concerned. But the dialogue must go on. There is no other way out but exchanges between the peoples of the two countries on multifarious iss ues, that will definitely help strengthen the process of negotiations between the two countries, and addressing the vital issues of concern of peoples of India and Pakistan.

It is also heartening to note in this regard that almost all political forces in both the countries hailed the summit and the atmosphere for furthering the talks, arising out of the summit. However, some provocative and undesirable statements by some of the leaders of ND A constituents and some forces in Pakistan may impair the cause of ongoing peaceful negotiations. People of both the countries are expected to raise their voice to ensure better relations between the two countries, isolate the forces that intend to disrupt the developing relations between the two neighbours, and frustrate the imperialist designs.