The Himalayan region of Kashmir remains at the center of decades-long rivalry between India and Pakistan. Both South Asian nuclear powers claim the divided region and the subsequent conflict has hampered efforts to spur economic growth in an area where a fifth of the world's populations live. Both India and Pakistan have been receptive to the possibility of ending hostilities.

About a thousand Indian soldiers withdrew from the Indian-controlled Kashmir last week and another unit pulled out on Monday. The reduction in troop numbers, set to continue until the end of next March, is seen as a gesture of goodwill from India to Pakistan. The move coincided with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's first trip to the troubled region. During his visit, Singh vowed to continue the peace process with Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "Our government is committed to a purposeful dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. Our only condition is that, as agreed to by Pakistan, territory under control of Pakistan should not be used to promote cross border terrorism directed against us."

Despite expressing commitment to peace talks on Kashmir, Singh ruled out redrawing the territory's Line of Control, which separates the Indian and Pakistan-controlled portions. On Saturday, following Singh's speech, Pakistan's president urged India to show flexibility to resolve the conflict.

Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf said, "We would like to move forward. We would like to meet India half way. We will not move all the way. The halfway journey is from India. We will move half way. We want to discuss, as I've said, with sincerity, to resolve disputes, with flexibility and an open mind. We will leave our position when India leaves its position, never unilaterally. And lastly, we have the courage to go for a solution."

Last month, Musharraf put forward his own ideas on resolving the issue, saying Kashmir could be demilitarized and then given independence or put under UN or joint Indian-Pakistani control. India responded cooly to these ideas. But the peace process has developed relatively smoothly since a ceasefire last year and January's agreement to talk about Kashmir. High-level officials have met several times since then, although dialogue has skirted around the major issue of contention.

Fears that the process might be going no-where were dissipated in September, when Singh and Musharraf met face to face for the first time on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The two leaders agreed on their commitment to solving the Kashmir issue and normalizing ties.

The constructive atmosphere of this historic meeting has been widely called a positive step that augurs well for future moves towards peace.

Source: CCTV.com