Pakistan and India have been moving ever closer to friendly relations these last several months with significant engagement on the most sensitive subject of Kashmir. This latest agreement not only will come as a great comfort to Kashmiri families who will now be able to see relatives and friends on the other side of the border, but will also be of considerable practical benefit as well. Most importantly, however, it signals a new willingness on the part of the leadership of the two countries to put the interests of the people before the interests of the government.

The fact that the deadly bomb blasts that ripped through Delhi earlier this week have not succeeded in derailing this cooperative initiative is even more praiseworthy. What we are at last seeing is the emergence of true political maturity and compromise between the two countries on an issue that has been ruled by emotion and partisan politics for half a century.

Indeed, as a corollary, one is pleased to note that the upcoming Saarc summit in Dhaka does not seem to be in any jeopardy due to the terrorist attack in Delhi nor the serial bombings in Bangladesh earlier on. All countries in the region appear to be taking the matter in their stride and appear determined not to let saboteurs and provacateurs stand in the way of this crucial summit meeting.

There is a lesson here for all of us. What the region needs is statesmanship and the politics of maturity, that is responsive to the needs of the citizens, and aimed at defusing tensions and establishing cordial relations, that will ultimately be to the benefit of all concerned.