The meeting between Indian and Pakistani leaders yesterday in Islamabad can set the scene for a much greater commitment to build an effective peace process between the two states.
Both the Indian prime minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the president of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf made upbeat assessments of the encounter ahead of their meeting on the fringes of a south Asian summit meeting devoted mainly to economic co-operation. This is welcome indeed after the dangerous escalation of tension over Kashmir between the two nuclear-armed states in May and June 2002.
Mr Vajpayee drew comparisons between Europe's success in creating the world's most powerful economic grouping "after centuries of fratricidal conflicts and wars" and said "rational economics should triumph over political prejudice in south Asia" as well. Echoing these sentiments General Musharraf said: "We must put behind us the tarnished legacy of mistrust, bitterness and tension. We owe this to our people".
In recent weeks it has been announced that air, rail and bus links between the Indian and Pakistani administered parts of Kashmir are being reopened. These confidence-building measures feed into preliminary diplomatic contacts between the two states in which it is reported the Pakistanis are ready to drop their long-standing demand that a United Nations plebiscite be held on the political future of Kashmir. This summit will today agree to introduce a free trade area between the seven states involved from 2006, a wider umbrella for Indo-Pakistani economic co-operation. It is a potentially significant decision, given south Asia's rapid economic development.
General Musharraf has recently survived two assassination attempts organised by Kashmiri diehards and has just been appointed to serve another term as president of Pakistan. This should encourage him to take the risks necessary to improve relations with India which could put the future of Kashmir on the agenda. To do that he must confront elements in the Pakistani armed forces and intelligence services who have for years been empowered by events in neighbouring Afghanistan and the security crisis in Kashmir. Mr Vajpayee faces general elections in two months, during which he could gain stature from a developing peace process - although he too faces opposition from diehard Hindu nationalists in his party.
The two men are engaged in a risky pirouette for reduced tension and a peace process. International encouragement is important for their venture - and it will continue to be necessary given the huge stakes involved.