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No breakthroughs, but Singh & Gilani have a good conversation

CHANDIGARH: Faced with seemingly insurmountable problems on the domestic front, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took the diplomatic initiative of a re-engagement with Pakistan at Mohali stadium on Wednesday. The initiative appeared to have paid some dividends because the dialogue process between the two countries would henceforth acquire some momentum. ( Read: Fever catches on: Cricket diplomacy finds resonance in distant Tanzania ) ( Read: Manmohan's Mohali hunch pays off ) ( Read: Cong hopes to bury ghosts of Havana, Sharm-el Sheikh ) Not that the Singh-Yousaf Raza Gilani meeting was followed by any major announcement. It was described as not really a dialogue but informal conversations between Singh and Gilani. During the unstructured talks, Singh touched upon a large number of issues that are yet to be resolved between the two countries. The meeting, it was claimed, was wide-ranging and covered a large number of issues, including those concerning the economies of the two countries. ( Read: Gilani bats for peace, calls tie a victory for cricket ) ( Read: Hours before summit, VOIP call sparks security scare ) In fact, a beaming Singh looked in control as he stepped out in the company of his Pakistani counterpart to be introduced to the teams before the match began. Earlier, Singh had received Gilani at the Punjab Cricket Association ground. The two leaders were greeted by ICC chief and Union Minister Sharad Pawar and gifted plaques. Singh's was an abrupt move to invite the Pakistani leaders over for an informal round of talks. There was criticism that the emphasis on diplomacy could play spoilsport and shift the focus away from the cricket match. The PMO had been jittery about the informal dialogue receiving a more-than-necessary coverage by an intrusive media. But the broadcasters obliged this afternoon when the TV camera completely avoided the VVIP enclosure at the Punjab Cricket Association Ground. Once the match began, the two leaders had enough time to themselves apart from applauding the odd boundary or the fall of a wicket. It was only at the end of the match after the last Pakistani wicket had fallen that the cameras showed the two leaders seated next to each other. It was during the first 90 minutes of the semifinal when the two leaders were left alone that the Prime Minister raised various issues he had in mind. It was that interesting phase of the match when Sachin Tendulkar was teasing the Pakistani fielders with quite a few chances. It was at that time that Singh got his opportunity to sound out Prime Minister Gilani and elicit his views on a number of pending issues. Singh left the venue a little after 4 pm before Yuvraj Singh was bowled by a Wahab Riaz yorker. He spent the rest of the afternoon at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. Gilani, too, moved out of the VVIP box half-an-hour later and left for Taj Chandigarh where his accommodation had been arranged. Long before dinner began, the two leaders had already shared their thoughts. These wide-ranging conversations were not meant to accomplish anything more than that. The conversations did not really achieve any major breakthrough. But could act as a catalyst and help strengthen the dialogue process. It is quite likely to be touted as a modest diplomatic triumph.

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