Prospects for Peace in South Asia: 9/11 a Year On: October/December 2002 Issue: Peace Watch: U.S. Institute of Peace

"Throughout South Asia, the search for prosperity and democracy is too often overshadowed by the specter of war," said Christina Rocca, assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, at a panel during the Institute's "9/11 a Year On" conference.

Deepa Ollapally, program officer in the Institute's Special Initiative on the Muslim World, moderated the panel, which included Rocca as well as Strobe Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution, and Nayan Chanda of Yale University.

Rocca described recent administration interactions with Pakistan and India, noting that both sides have reaffirmed their desire for a peaceful political solution to their conflict. Kashmir is now firmly on the international agenda, as is encouraging continued India-Pakistan dialogue.

Rocca reminded listeners of conflicts in Sri Lanka and Nepal. While there is hope for a cessation of hostilities in Sri Lanka, Rocca is less optimistic about events in Nepal. She said that the administration hopes to play a productive role in assisting these nations to settle their differences, "not as a meddler nor as a mediator, but as somebody whose good offices can help bring people to the table."

Talbott zeroed in on arms control in the region, specifically the nuclear programs of feuding India and Pakistan. He listed five "benchmark issues" of past dialogue between the United States and both India and Pakistan.

Getting India and Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty;
Breathing new life into the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty;
Engaging both countries on the export controls on dangerous technology and nuclear know-how;
Encouraging strategic restraint to bring the danger of fall-out under control; and
Promoting continued India-Pakistan dialogue, to diffuse the conflict.

Talbott said it was sobering to see how little progress had been made on these benchmark issues, with the exception of export controls and India-Pakistan dialogue.

Chanda called September 11 a bolt of lightening that illuminated the key issues in South Asia. He specifically cited the new alliance forged between Pakistan and the United States and the fact that this has brought much-needed attention to the Kashmir issue. As for steps toward peace, Chanda said Pakistan needed to continue its efforts to stop infiltration and control militants in Kashmir, and India needed to ensure an impartial environment for elections in Kashmir.

Other Institute Resources:

"Prospects for Peace in South Asia"
Remarks by Christina Rocca, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State