OTHER VOICES

US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley ought to be applauded for her straight talk: speaking at a news conference on Monday, the ambassador claimed that the administration she represents is concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and that the US wants to “find its place” in talks between the South Asian rivals before a conflict situation arises.

The Indian response to that somewhat soft and fairly sensible statement by Ms Haley was swift: the foreign ministry spokesperson insisted that India-Pakistan talks should be strictly bilateral and could only take place in what India describes as an “environment free of terror and violence”. In essence, the Indian position is that dialogue on matters that concern Pakistan should be bilateral, but India welcomes international pressure on Pakistan to address India’s complaints of militancy and terrorism against Pakistan...

Yet, India’s objections do not undermine the logic of the US offer. While India resists socalled hyphenation by the US — approaching US ties with India and Pakistan as interconnected — such an approach could have beneficial consequences for both countries and further the cause of peace in the region...

Ultimately, India and Pakistan will have to engage in dialogue again. History has proved that there is an alternative, especially now that war has become unthinkable between the two countries.

The Pakistani military leadership has been clear it does not seek conflict, and the political leadership that it wants dialogue. Surely, India must recognise the desirability and inevitability of dialogue soon.