The Pugwash meeting on Kashmir held on 22-23 July in Colombo has once again reiterated that violence should be shunned in seeking to resolve the Kashmir issue. The meeting was attended by representatives of all the major political formations from the mainstream as well as dissident camps from the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. The two-day meet also took note of the changing political discourse on and in Kashmir and hoped that the volatile situation in Pakistan would not affect India-Pakistan dialogue negatively and nullify the progress made on Kashmir.

This was the third Pugwash meeting on Kashmir and there has been a perceptible progress in the substance and spirit of the meetings over the years. While the Kathmandu meeting was path-breaking as it was the first time in the history of India-Pakistan relations that around fifty participants including leaders, academics, former civil servants and members of civil society came together to envision a common future for Kashmir, the Islamabad meeting in December 2005 was significant for its symbolic value as it had successfully brought together participants from an even wider range of political opinions. Moreover, the participants were addressed by President Pervez Musharraff who used the occasion to tell the participants that his country was willing to think out of the box on Kashmir and that he did not consider the redrawing of borders to be a realistic option for Kashmir.

The Colombo meeting was yet another important Track II step in the direction of bringing sustainable peace to Kashmir for a variety of important reasons. First,, it was gratifying to see the participants deliberating at length on the functional details of improving and institutionalizing cross-LoC connections, a radical improvement from yesteryears when such a large gathering would not even manage to agree upon the broad parameters for such discussions. Such measurers at improving the lives of Kashmiris by bringing the estranged parts of J&K together, the conference felt, were of utmost importance, even as efforts continued towards finding a mutually acceptable and lasting solution to the issue. Second, even though the conference did not bring out a consensual document at the end of the meeting, the message was loud and clear throughout the two-day meet - there is no going back as far as Kashmir is concerned, and the ongoing peace process in J&K has to be strengthened. Third, and perhaps most important, there was substantive discussion on the need to mainstream those Kashmiris who have taken up arms. This, the participants felt, is not only necessary for the eventual success of the peace process but also part of the moral responsibility of civil society.

The meeting was held at a crucial juncture in India-Pakistan relations and Kashmir's progress towards peace and tranquility. At least two features seem to distinguish the current state of politics in and on Kashmir from the past. One, the Pakistani leadership and most of the important Kashmiri leaders have now accepted the existing territorial realities of Kashmir. Two, most of the stakeholders in Kashmir have by now articulated what they would like to achieve in terms of a settlement of the issue. As Pakistan considers a 'second-best solution' in Kashmir and the moderates in Kashmir's dissident camp show signs of entering into the mainstream political process, non-official attempts such as the Pugwash meetings at promoting healthy dialogue among various competing and complementary viewpoints are timely and essential.

Equally important are the many changes that we are witnessing in the world and the region which have implications for peace in Kashmir and between India and Pakistan. The changing geopolitical realities around them and their impact on national interests have forced India and Pakistan to understand that the struggle today is against common problems ailing their countries. Terrorism, poverty, ecological and environmental problems, and religious extremism are the new enemies. Both countries realize that unrealistic zero-sum games are of no benefit to either.

Such political enlightenment brought about by regional and global forces has had a deep impact on the people of Kashmir too. Like today's Pakistan, embattled by religious extremism at home and isolated in the world, dissident leaders of Kashmir are also searching for a second-best solution, something that is short of independent Kashmir. It is at this juncture, when realism seems to be having its way, that there should be concerted efforts to reconsider India's Kashmir policy that today reflects a vision deficit, political disinterestedness and bureaucratic inertia.

The Pugwash process is one such effort to bring together the various stakeholders in J&K to provide the space for dialogue, discussion and consensus-building for a better, prosperous and peaceful Kashmir.