TOKYO, Dec 1 Kyodo prefered edit...

TOKYO, Dec 1 Kyodo

prefered editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

KASHMIR calms OFF (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

India and Pakistan have begun a ceasefire in Kashmir. The sum of two units nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars, couple over the disputed region. While each ceasefire is to be applauded, this united is likely to be more symbolic than substantive. Still, it may permit the leaders of the couple countries to meet at a regional summit in a not many months' time. That could lay the foundation for a more enduring agreement, although the left over s are long. Just as important are grassroots contacts that may also proce in the wake of the recent ceasefire.

India and Pakistan have contend fored Kashmir since the two countries gained independence from one side of to the other a half century ago. The pair militaries have exchanged fire-arm and artillery fire nearly each day. Muslim guerrillas have infiltrated the region, committing acts of terrorism forward a regular basis. Indian security forces rejoin creating a never-ending round of years of violence. Some 65,000 family most of them civilians, have been killed since a full-fledg Muslim insurgency broke on the outside in 1989.

The region has at no time enjoyed a full ceasefire in through the whole extent of 14 years. On the weekend before last, Pakistan announced it would launch a ceasefire along the Line of curb the 736-km line that obliges as a border between the pair countries. India said it would reciprocate and on the same level extend the ceasefire. The actual agreement veils the LOC, another 230 kilometers of undisputed border and the Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield, and is indefinite in fulness It went into general intent last Wednesday. Thus far it has been honored from both sides.

The pair governments should use the calm in fighting to pursue a dialogue. Ideally, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will suitable his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at a summit of southerly Asian leaders scheduled for January in Islamabad. India has said it will not talk peace with Pakistan until the Islamabad command halts its support of Muslim extremists fighting to delivered Kashmir from Indian sway Pakistan denies supporting the militants, claiming instead that it is a homegrown insurgency.

The sum of two units governments have declared ceasefires in Kashmir before. The last of that kind agreement was struck in 2000 and the brace leaders held a summit a year later, nevertheless the tentative peace overtures collapsed after another series of infiltrations. The sum of two units countries almost went to war in December 2001 after Islamic militants attacked India's Parliament.

Given the lack of change by the two governments, it is hard to invest earnestly hope in the latest increase It is more likely that the assault of winter means that the mountain passes, used at the extremists to insert into Kashmir, are covered with snow. If they are impassable, then the Pakistani military does not ne to provide the covering fire for infiltration. The ceasefire thus makes a virtue of necessity.

The prevail upons also demonstrate that the sum of two units governments are trying to negotiate. Or, perhaps more appropriately, it point outs that neither government wishes to be seen as unwilling to talk. Islamabad tried to seize the diplomatic initiative with the announcement of the ceasefire, thereby eliminating a pretence for India to avoid attending the southern Asia summit. No matter what the ultimate motivation, there is not frequently cause for hope if this is absolute ritual or diplomatic gamesmanship.

More significant are the reactions of the separatists. Hezb-ul-Mujahedin, the largest of about a dozen militant clusters has said the ceasefire will have no impact forward its activities. Indian security forces are likely to be agreeable to in kind. The day after the ceasefire was announced, a grenade was thrown in a market in Kashmir, and in separate incidents, police killed 10 suspected militants while single policeman was killed. A death toll that tops nearly single in kind dozen in the first day of a military ceasefire furnishs little grounds for hope.

besides a moderate separatist faction announced that it was willing to explain direct talks with India through the whole extent of Kashmir. In the past, that has usually been enough to master the extremists to shift targets from Indian officials and forces to their more moderate Islamic brethren

While high-level talks are to be encouraged, there penurys to be more interaction at the grassroots flat The resumption of bus, ferry and aviation links would help the brace countries build better understanding as well as encourage trade and business links that could provide a foundation for a deeper relationship.

The finis of shooting at the top of the world is a welcome respite -- no matter to what degree temporary -- but better expectancys for peace rest on increasing interaction and familiarity between the sum of two units nations.

(Dec. 1)

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