There seems to be much enthusiasm regarding Track II initiatives (or people to people’s contact) between India and Pakistan and the effect it has had. Indeed, in 2004, the volume of such contact was significantly higher than in the years past.

Over 500 Indians public faces visited Pakistan as part of these parallel efforts. These included including intellectuals, politicians, former bureaucrats, retired soldiers, showbiz and media personalities. Religious leaders from Pakistan visited India and met with religious leaders from among Muslim and Hindu communities. An Indian delegation of political leaders visited Pakistan and was feted by its media. The chief ministers of divided Punjab exchanged visits and there was a groundswell of support for continued and stronger relationships. Film stars from Bollywood visited and performed in Pakistan. The Indian government even allowed a group of Pakistani journalists to visit Srinagar; subsequently the Pakistan government reciprocated by letting Indian journalists into Muzaffarabad.

Perhaps the biggest and most public visit was by the Indian team. Set in a context of apprehension – everyone wondered how they would be received and whether there were security threats – the warmth of the welcome was beamed into every house in India. They were applauded even when the beat the home team. The bonhomie in the crowd was visible across the continent. That was perhaps one of the biggest icebreakers, the most significant catalyst for change in the perception of the other. The Pakistani team visits this year.

Clearly, such people to people contact has caused a dent in the fear and hatred that has been attributed to Pakistan-India relationships, perhaps more than any Indo-Pak summit has achieved.

In the midst of all these festivities, numerous intellectuals have claimed that we have reached the turning point in the relationship between India and Pakistan, that while more work is needed, we will but get there. They point to the increasing Bollywood presence in Pakistan and making of Indian movies with Pakistani actors. They point to resumption of cricket ties.

A recent BBC analysis suggested that these Track II initiatives have reached critical mass. "It is unstoppable now," says Imtiaz Alam, the founding father and current secretary general of the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) , a Pakistani NGO aggressively pushing public-level contact between the two South Asian neighbours.

Such an analysis is perhaps baseless. There is much to be done before we can be assured that amicable relationships between these South Asian neighbors in inevitable. We have seen movies being made in the past – made during such periods of thaw. Raj Kapoor’s Heena comes to mind. In fact, Indian movies and movie stars have always found an audience in Sri Lanka; this is not new. Similarly, much was made of Pakistani cricket team’s last trip to India as well.

The progress of peace initiatives is still in its early stages and must remain cautious of such claims. We have known that numerous political events can change the climate overnight. There are numerous variables – foreign and domestic political needs of forces in power and in opposition, the ebb and flow of the constituencies of religious leaders, interests of militant groups, and their activities – remain outside the control of peace activists. These continue to be variables that influence the peace process strongly enough; one false event can mar the process. There is much that can be written about each of these.

Without sounding alarmist, the peace initiative must continue to work to build stronger bonds between the people of these two countries. It must continue to strengthen these relationships through Track II initiatives to a point where instances of violence can be seen as anomalies rather than the reinforcement of hatred and negativity. We are quite far from such a place.

The peace march planned from New Delhi to Multan is another effort in a continuum of such efforts. The peace initiative must find a way to build a groundswell of support for this event.

Another gathering organized by expatriates from India and Pakistan has a similar goal.

The peace movement must also find ways to connect these initiatives.

Perhaps the greatest connection is the connection between humans – our fears, our hopes, our insecurities and our ambitions. That, unfortunately, most of Asia’s poor live in these two countries. That these two countries have among the lowest economic and
living
indices. Perhaps the greatest connection will be the connection of these sections, and those who continue to facilitate their voices.

Sanat Mohanty