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India, Pakistan 'Ufa and puff' their way to talks

Terrorism, not Kashmir, is the bigger threat to India and Pakistan, and the decision by the prime ministers of the two countries to acknowledge the core issue and embark on another draining dialogue process shows a new maturity from both the sides. What's different about these talks from previous false and stuttering starts has been the measured approach to festering issues.
The plan is to take it one step at a time - the burden of expectations did not weigh on Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif as they went into a huddle for an hour on the sidelines of the Brics and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Russia.
Six decades of mistrust cannot be resolved in 60 minutes. India and Pakistan know the challenges are many because they've been there and not done it before. Staying the course itself will be a major task when there are mounting domestic, military and political pressures. 'Tone down the rhetoric of war, nuclear or conventional, and take the momentum forward' may be easy to suggest from our cosy corner, but try walking the talk along the LoC where skirmishes continue and soldiers, civilians and intruders are killed.
Politicians being politicians on both sides, they will play to the home gallery when it suits their interests and developments on the ground will be hard to predict.
A shared destiny may be long past, but there is potential for common economic prosperity even today despite not trusting each other's motives. After a year of playing truant with their respective mandates to improve bilateral ties, the two elected leaders are beginning to take their responsibilities seriously for the sake of the people of the two countries who deserve nothing less than peace. Sharif and Modi were expected to hit it off and make it work during Modi's inauguration last year but the vexed issue of Kashmir, over which the countries fought three wars, got in the way. It is certain to come up again but the trick is to keep the dice of peace rolling and the guns muzzled when it matters the most.
At their structured meeting in Ufa, PMs Sharif and Modi set clear objectives sans the ceremony and bonhomie. The countries agreed to find ways to speed up the Mumbai attacks trial - something which New Delhi has been pressing Islamabad to do. National Security Advisors of both countries are set to meet in Delhi to discuss all issues related to terrorism. Border commanders will also meet early to prevent escalation of tension and attacks along the shared borders between the countries. Modi will also visit Pakistan next year for the Saarc summit.
After being separated at birth 68 years ago, the two countries appear to have finally taken joint baby steps against terrorism. A laudable effort in these troubled times when real enemies like Daesh do no respect borders.