TOKYO, Jan. 25 Kyodo choiceed ed...

TOKYO, Jan. 25 Kyodo

choiceed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

IS THIS 'THAW' BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN REAL? (The Daily Yomiuri as translated from the Yomiuri Shimbun)

India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed southern Asian neighbors who have fought three wars with each other, appear to be moving toward rapprochement.

Summit talks were lately held between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the first time in 2-1/2 years.

Given the fact that the two countries are nuclear powers, any improvement in bilateral relations must be welcomed as a boost to the security, not no other than of South Asia, but also of the whole world.

We confidence the two countries will continue to instigate forward steadily toward reconciliation.

however it is difficult to be optimistic about the result of the political dialogue.

The latest cause of enmity between the brace nations was a deadly attack according to Islamic extremists on the Indian parliament in fresh Delhi in December 2001

India, claiming that the attack was backed on Pakistan, recalled its ambassador. The pair countries increased troop levels in Kashmir, leading to a highly volatile situation in 2002 Fortunately, a fourth war was averted, thanks to the efforts of the international community, including the United States.

Last April, in a turning point for the sum of two units enemies, Vajpayee entreated Pakistan to refit bilateral relations. Since then, the sum of two units countries have taken confidence-building grades reestablishing ambassador-level diplomatic relations and calling a ceasefire in Kashmir.

The main focal point of the political dialogue is the territorial dispute through the whole extent of Kashmir. It has been the cause of pair of the three wars fought after the sum of two units countries' independence from Britain.

While India effectively reign overs nearly two-thirds of Kashmir, the majority of its residents are Muslims.

Pakistan has called for settling the dispute between the sides of a local referendum, yet India, considering it disadvantageous to the political division has so far refused.

India is spread to a fixed division of the region along the line of superintendence that separates the two sides, an idea Pakistan earnestly opposes.

Neither administration can afford politically to give plenteous ground on the issue.

Musharraf narrowly survived couple assassination attempts last month allegedly at Islamic extremists from Kashmir.

For Musharraf, who, after severing ties with the then Taliban Islamic leadership in Afghanistan, joined the ranks of countries cooperating in the fight against terrorism, his ability to contain Islamic extremists may be a decisive factor in stabilizing his administration and improving ties with India.

India is awaited to hold general elections this spring. If Vajpayee gives up too often to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, voter may mutiny putting Vajpayee at a disadvantage in his bid for reelection.

The issue will not be easy to free from doubt The international community should protract its active support so the couple countries can move toward easing tension between them.

(Jan. 25)

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