Tragic though it might be, it will call for diplomatic dexterity of a rare degree to ensure Kartarpur does not degenerate into another ‘K’ word in the fractious Indo-Pak conversation. For despite there being a religious sentiment underlying the moves to opening a corridor for Indian pilgrims to visit the sacred shrine of Guru Nanak on his 500th birth anniversary, after a single official level meeting to work out modalities for operationalising the transit system, New Delhi and Islamabad were back to their customary name-calling, accusations and counter accusations. The promising language of the carefully-worded joint statement was quickly overtaken by the almost abusive language that marks so much of the bilateral dialogue. It appeared that Pulwama and Balakot set the tenor. That causes questions to arise if the talks were ill-timed, since hostile passions were still running strong, and election fever is rising in India. Time was when hopes might have been expressed that had the foreign offices handled the talks the outcome might have been less confrontationist, but such niceties of governance have now evaporated in New Delhi and Islamabad. The message of Guru Nanak has been ignored. Unless better sense prevails, subsequent rounds of scheduled talks could wind up in adding another ugly dimension to the tensions straddling the Radcliffe Line.

Since as yet there is little known about Pakistan’s official reaction to the talks on the Indian side of the Attari-Wagah border, comment will of necessity be based on what an official of the Indian home ministry told the media, a pity he declined to be identified, by designation if not personally, for that would have added authenticity to his sharp comments. North Block, it appears, cannot extricate itself from the dubious habit of allowing “sources” to articulate its case ~ even on an international matter. Sure there were several specifics on which the Pakistani officials backtracked from the seemingly-lofty positions that prime minister Imran Khan had taken, but quite a few of the irritants could have been resolved at the negotiating table. By opting for a “politically correct” position the home ministry official enlarged the scope of the conflict. He/she opted to recall the baggage of troubled history, accused Pakistan of “surreptitiously usurping land” and “rampant encroachment” at the Kartarpur gurdwara. And continued to accuse Pakistan of “double-speak” and “living up to its reputation of making false promises, tall claims”. He asserted that there was “a sea of difference” between what Imran Khan had offered and what Pakistani officials had said, and opined that “clearly Pakistan is not interested in providing Indian pilgrims easy access to Kartarpur Sahib” and more of such rhetoric. Where does that leave the pilgrim? Behind telescope, binoculars? Is another bilateral stalemate on the cards? Surely for pilgrims’ sake both sides should avoid being petty.