In a surprise move, the Indian government has indicated a willingness to improve strained ties with Pakistan and go beyond the one-point agenda it has clung to since the Mumbai attacks, i.e. that Pakistan must shut down the terror infrastructure on its soil that allegedly poses a direct threat to India.

Pakistan’s official position since Mumbai has been that relations between the two South Asian neighbours cannot be held hostage to a ‘single terrorist act’ and that the composite dialogue needs to be resumed. Privately, though, Pakistani officials acknowledge that talks short of the composite dialogue would be acceptable, too — so the ball is still in India’s court and it must decide to what extent it is willing to break from its unyielding position.

The key in the weeks ahead will be the meetings between the foreign secretaries of the two countries and later perhaps a meeting between the prime ministers at a Saarc summit in Bhutan. While there is reason to be hopeful, the debacle the Indian government faced over the Sharm El Sheikh declaration last year should be remembered, too. It will not be easy for the government of either country to engage the other in meaningful talks.

However, there is no doubt of the absolute necessity of talks. To the long-standing issue of Kashmir, another ‘core’ issue has been added: water. Then there is the jockeying in Afghanistan, where India seems to believe it finally has a chance to seriously ramp up its interests, a possibility that angers Pakistan. And even more worrying is the pursuit of ‘Cold Start’ warfare by India, a doctrine that the Pakistan Army portrays as having potentially catastrophic effects on regional strategic stability. Looked at from any angle, the problems between India and Pakistan are simply too serious for them to avoid talking to each other. But seriousness of the problems also calls for maturity not always on show by either side. If India has made the first overture this time, Pakistan must seize it and demonstrate its own bona fides as a peace partner.