Indeed, Pakistan has turned into a new page of democratic era as the PPP and PML-Nawaz have formed a coalition government after winning the crucial elections last month. The victory was followed by a tidal wave of enthusiasm signifying that the return of democracy in Pakistan would make considerable headway in strengthening bilateral relations and shedding hatred. People on both sides are hopeful that the newly elected leaders would honestly work for restoring peace and harmony in the region as six decades of mistrust and three full-fledged wars have yielded no tangible results. As the true representatives of the people the new regime should resume the stalled "composite dialogue" process in right earnest to strike an honourable and mutually beneficial peace deal with India.

There is no denying that all issues concerning India and Pakistan need immediate settlement through negotiations. But the fact remains that no talks can make headway as Kashmir issue is an obstacle to peace. Moreover, the urge for peace has been felt more on this side than the other as is being displayed by the statements of our leaders from time to time. The reason being that Pakistan's first and foremost priority is on discussing Kashmir problem first and then any other issue that is confronting the two sides. In fact, beyond Kashmir they are not ready to circumvate on any other issue, howsoever, important it may be. As such wouldn't be it too much to expect from the new regime in Pakistan which is yet to settle down.

As the democratic process has signalled a sea change an obvious requirement is now that the two sides should set in motion the peace process that has been put on backburner since situation across the borders was not conducive. Truth is embedded in the fact that both countries have achieved nothing from the wars fought after independence. Those wars not only took a heavy toll on soldiers but also drained out resources on both the sides. Being at a developing stage both can hardly afford to continue with it any longer.

Actually, the two sides need to concentrate more on discussing important bilateral issues first and Kashmir dispute later. As all the avenues of peace, trust, economic progress and development will itself lead to the resolution of other critical issues side by side. Needless to say, Kashmir has been an apple of discord between the two sides since partition and hopefully will continue to remain so for times to come.

Heading down the same road again and trumpeting their old drums will serve no purpose except building up pressure on the borders and directing nuclear war heads against one another.

Suggestions are pouring in from every side. From Bush to Musharraf, UN to OIC, BJP to CPM, Hurriyat to PDP, NC to JI and other corners. Everyone is quick to suggest but none keen to solve the problem. Kashmir should be divided into two parts, LoC be converted into an international border, plebiscite, greater autonomy, special status, abrogation of Article 370 and self rule are heading the newspaper headlines intermittently. In the meanwhile, Pakistan is continuing its moral, religious and military support to terrorists and expanding Jihadi infrastructure on its soil. This is quite clear from the April 6 militant leaders meet in Rawalpindi wherein they woved to continue their "Jihad" in the valley. The meeting was held in a Mosque in garrison city and was attended by the leaders of Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashker-e-Taoiba, Hizbi Islami-Kashmir and other Jihadi groups. There is also a swinging opinion in favour of opening up of the bigger frontiers of economic cooperation, commerce and trade, social and cultural interaction by exchanging groups and delegations etc. Is the opening up of borders and people to people contact possible if the new regime takes no objection to militants regrouping in the country? The answer is an outright no.

Incidentally, no government in Pakistan can survive by putting Kashmir issue on backburner. It needs no reiteration that government will die but not the Kashmir cause. Of course, the new government is likely to meet the same fate if it tries to enter into any peace parleys while keeping Kashmir issue at bay. Zardari has had to face the heat when he stressed on discussing bilateral issues first and Kashmir latter. No doubt, it will be in Pakistan's own interest if it initiates a dialogue to settle all issues amicably and across the table. As the elections have marked a turning point in the history of Pakistan it is to be seen at which alarcity the new leadership opens channels for peace and progress with its immediate neighbour.

As a matter of fact, the coalition government has agreed to continue fight against militants but it would not be as much easy as many of us think. Learning from the previous experience it cannot afford to go against the wishes of its own people as Kashmir has become hottest flash point on earth. Suggestively, when the peace efforts initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee followed by Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Musharraf could not bear any fruit how can one expect the same from the new regime. Apart from that, the two sides have utterly failed to reach an understanding on Baglighar Power Project, Oil and Gas pipeline from Iran, release of Prisoners of War and fishermen and demarcation of Saichin etc. There are no signs visible whether the agreements will see the light of the day, yet the people expect the two governments to come closer with the change of guard across the borders.

Had the people of Pakistan been interested in peace returning to the subcontinent they would not have held demonstrations offering full support to militants on Kashmir Solidarity Day.

By raising slogans against India the people have more or less exhibited that they are only interested in Kashmir and not ushering in a new era of friendship and peace.

This is despite the fact that the monster of Jihad in Kashmir is already creating problems for the country. Since Pakistan has all along been patronising Jihadi groups and training them for bleeding India through a proxy war it will certainly be difficult for the new regime to deviate from the earlier path.

History is witness to the fact that whenever India offered its hand of friendship the Pakistan rulers ignored it and instead harped on the same issues again and again. Well, we can understand their compulsions as survival of the government depends on the survival of Kashmir problem. Naturally, it would be too much to expect of the new government headed by Prime Minister Yousuf Razza Gillani to put " Kashmir Genie" back in the bottle and discuss other issues.