Indian Premier Manmohan Singh who is visiting Mauritius as from tomorrow is one of the key figures the world is looking at to bring stability to South Asia. The way he handles the strategic security politics with the Pakistani leadership will be critical to the peace process in the most dangerous place in the world.

India has just expressed its concern to the Bush administration over the latter?s decision to sell fighter planes to Pakistan. India views with much apprehension the strengthening of the military cooperation between the United States (US) and its neighbour and arch-enemy Pakistan.

This new development on the defense front and the ensuing reaction are a clear illustration that the ongoing dialogue process between the two nuclear rivals is still flimsy. Political level talks have resumed after the two countries were on the brink war in mid-2002, after terror activities rose to unprecedented levels in Indian-occupied Kashmir, but also after an attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001.

Right now, some ?cricket diplomacy? is at work to help bring the talks firmly back on track. Diplomats and also political leaders from both sides have been meeting at an increasing pace over the past two years. But we are far from any groundbreaking developments.

Peace between India and Pakistan is crucial to the stability of South Asia. Rivalry among the neighbours (including China) is compounded by the fact that all of them now have nuclear capabilities. Religious extremism and terrorism have added another dimension to a hitherto complex issue inherited from the 1947 partition.

<B>Unfinished business</B>

Both countries have been disputing the Himalayan region of Kashmir since then. They fought two wars to take control of the valley. Pakistan managed to secure a portion of the territory in 1948.

The famous Line of Control (LOC) separates the divided territory. India?s policy is to have the LOC converted into a permanent international border. Pakistan rejects this argument since it views the problem as unfinished business left over the partition. It alleges that India control over Kashmir is illegitimate. The Kashmiris, it claims, should be given the opportunity to choose which country they want to join through a plebiscite.

Secular India has been consistently resisting the idea of another secession along communal lines. The fact that the Kashmiri population is mainly made up of Muslims is irrelevant to the problem, as per the Indian stand.

The territorial dispute took a very dangerous turn in the late 80s when an insurgency started in part of the valley occupied by India. India constantly accuses its neighbour of fuelling the rebellion by encouraging cross-border terror. Islamabad says it only provides moral and political support to the ?freedom struggle?.

Whilst the neighbours have been hanging on to their beliefs, the situation has been getting out of control. The violence has claimed more than 35 000 victims.

Manmohan Singh is seen as a man of consensus. One of his main tasks in resolving the quarrel is to bring more of the separatist groups into the dialogue process. Thanks to his new down to earth diplomacy, the people of Kashmir are now starting to believe they have a choice. Talks can succeed where arms have unmistakably failed.