Pakistani people read newspapers featuring headlines regarding Congress Party victory in the Indian elections

Asif Farooqi, IOL Correspondent

ISLAMABAD, MAY 15 (IslamOnline.net) – A cross section of the Pakistani society cautiously welcomed the political change in India after the defeat of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party in the parliamentary elections, expecting an impact on the pace of Indo-Pak rapprochement.

The pace of progress on dialogue between  Pakistan and India may slow down because the new leadership may set new priorities, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Syed Mushahid Hussain told IslamOnline.net.

He said the basic thrust of the Indian policy would remain unchanged with perhaps one significant difference about the pace of Pak-India dialogue and the schedule the two sides agreed upon after the 12th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Islamabad.

The Indian opposition Congress Party has won 145 seats in the parliamentary elections, where Muslims were believed to have played a key role.

With the support of the Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) - which have 52 and 10 seats respectively – the Congress comfortably crosses the 272 mark required to form a stable government.

Hussain pointed out that the Congress and its leader Sonia Gandhi have been supportive of the rapprochement between  Pakistan and India.

Sonia, the tipped new prime minister, is the political heir of the Gandhi dynasty which is credited with the initiation of peace process with Pakistan in 1996.

Immediately after winning the elections, the Congress reaffirmed commitment to the ongoing peace process with nuclear rival  Pakistan over the Muslim-majority Kashmir.

This came after Pakistan expressed hope that the BJP's defeat would not affect the peace process between the South Asian rivals.

Enthusiasm

Outgoing Indian Premier Atal Behari Vajepyee had added a new dimension to Pak-India relations last year when he offered "a hand of friendship" to the arch rival followed by steps to build confidence.

In the wake of the pace and enthusiasm with which Vajepayee persuaded the peace initiatives, many in Pakistan believe such a major change in India may hinder the speed of peace process.

Dr Muhammad Wassem, Professor of International Relations at Qa’ed-eA’zam (QA) University in Islamabad, said it is not possible for any political party in India to divert from the policy of better relations with Pakistan.

However, he said the personal interest taken by the former premier in the peace process would be missing in future communications between the two countries.

Syed Kabir Ali Wasti, vice president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), ruled out any tangible difference as far as Pak-India relations are concerned in the coming days.

Pakistan's younger generation is even more enthusiastic with the new leaders in India.

"She is younger, she is more liberal and she is cute" said 22-year-old Khalid who thought prospects of peace with India were better with Italian-born Sonia Gandhi.

Salima Shahid, a history teacher at a local college, said she strongly believes that the democratic institutions in  India would keep the direction of relations with  Pakistan in the same way.

But she agreed that the pace may logically slow down a bit.

Pakistan and Indian had fought three wars since independence in 1947, two of them over Muslim-majority Himalayan region of  Kashmir .

Their armies routinely exchange fire along the 750 kilometer (465 miles) Line of Control, which divides  Kashmir between both countries, and their 230 kilometer (143 mile) international border.

On May 2, 2003, they restored full diplomatic ties to settle half a century of disputes "for the economic and social betterment of their peoples.

The jerky start to peace moves led to the resumption of a bi-weekly bus service and the restoration of full diplomatic links.

Both countries agreed last February to a ‘roadmap’ of four-month discussions on disputes including the issue of  Kashmir.