What next for India-Pakistan ties?

With India and Pakistan playing each other for the first time in nearly a year, a joint broadcast of two leading news channels from both countries had panelists discussing whether bilateral ties will resume. Pakistan appear keen to resume, but India are held back due to political reasons. With the political climate simmering since November 2008, Osman Samiuddin wonders in The National if change is on the cards.

The history of contact between the two sides has the feel of an eating disorder; stuff yourselves for a while before forcing it all out and then starting all over again. Extended periods of stark drought have been followed by a few years of heady, greedy pillage. Much more sensible to keep it special, so that it is treasured and not causing the kind of ennui and overfill as happened between 2003/04 and 2007/08 (and a few times before).