IS South Asia heading for a change? Much will depend on Indo-Pak relations and the ability of the leaders of the two countries to put Kashmir behind them and build new economic links, which can act as instruments of change. The changes world over these days are driven by economic forces and there is no reason why countries of this region do not follow the lead. If there had been several wars between India and Pakistan, a proxy war between the nations of Europe was no better till they decided to come together.

For instance, any student of history will tell you how countries like Britain, France and Germany fought wars, which made the entire world a war theatre. The recent developments in technology, particularly development of nuclear war, have made wars into bad business. It is no more possible to win territory by use of arms. If fighting offers no solution a time has come when countries of this region look for alternative frontiers to cross. It is no secret that the levels of poverty, lack of health-care and education need urgent attention. The resources being wasted in war, effort could make big difference if diverted to constructive purposes.

The good point is that voices in favour of peace and friendship are being raised in both the countries. There are many people who are keen that trade links be established, travel made easy and two countries should put the bitter chapter of acrimony behind them. Even people in Kashmir are keenly watching the progress towards opening of Uri-Rawalpindi road instead of progress of war being waged for freedom by some misguided elements. Once the travel become easy, economic links get established, we may not be able to get common currency or a common market, but we will certainly move away from the possibility of a shooting war between two countries which possess enough nuclear weapons in their arsenal to eliminate each other or damage sub-continent to the extent that normal life becomes impossible.

The good thing is that the peace movement in the sub-continent is for the first time being led by people. Even though Army has a big say in running the fragile democratic Government in Pakistan and in India a BJP led coalition government is in power, the two continue to be pushed on the road of peace and progress. This is a pressure, which the two governments cannot ignore.

In India, a strong lobby is also working in favour of peace. There are many powerful voices being raised in favour of forging strong economic links and ending present state of hostility. The easy solution, which can provide a way out, is freezing the Kashmir issue while the two countries follow a step-by-step approach on other issues. It is being seriously considered if the Vajpayee-led BJP, which won the last elections to the Lok Sabha riding a Kargil wave, could come to power this time riding a peace wave in the wake of SAARC summit in Islamabad. The issues like Ayodhya temple, Unified Civil Code or issue of special status of Kashmir in terms of Article 370 have been left by the wayside.