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Help Wanted India and Pakistan can't sort out the Kashmir problem on their own By APARISIM GHOSH February 24, 2000 Web posted at 10 a.m. Hong Kong time, 9 p.m. EST "There is no possibility of any mediation, inter-mediation or facilitation when it comes to the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir."
The writing on the wall could hardly be clearer: since Delhi and Islamabad can't sort out this mess on their own, they must turn to a third party to broker a lasting peace. The mediator must be neutral, trusted by both sides and able to guarantee any resulting accord by stationing a peacekeeping force in Kashmir for several years. Last week, I explained why the United States can't play that role. But Washington can--should--nudge Delhi and Islamabad toward a more suitable candidate. Who might that be? Not the United Nations: that politicized, bureaucratized body has a sorry record as a peacemaker. Norway seems keen to mediate Sri Lanka's civil war (and let's doff our hats to Oslo for volunteering to take on that daunting task), but the Scandinavian nation doesn't have the economic, political and military clout to make India and Pakistan sit up and listen. Nelson Mandela might have the moral force, but he has his plate full with African disputes. Perhaps a mediator might be found closer to the scene of the attrition, in Asia. China? No, India wouldn't trust Pakistan's old ally. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations? No, ASEAN has no credibility as a peace broker: if it couldn't mediate problems in its own backyard--think East Timor--what chance would it have in Kashmir? Some months ago, I suggested Saudi Arabia might be a candidate; on reflection, it seems unlikely that a Hindu-nationalist government in Delhi will put its faith is an Islamic state. Scratch Australia for the same reasons as Norway. See where this is leading? To Tokyo. Next week: why Japan might be the perfect peacemaker for South Asia. In the meantime, let me know your thoughts on the subject. Click where it says "Talk back to TIME" and let's get a discussion going. Ticked off at Asia Buzz? Talk back to TIME Write to TIME at mail@web.timeasia.com Search for recent Asia Buzz
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