today

Ahead of crucial foreign secretary-level talks, the Centre on Friday decided to restore cargo shipping services with Pakistan after a gap of 35 years to substantially bolster sea trade. The Union Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved a revised protocol between India and Pakistan that will allow lifting of cargo between the two nations by third country vessels. It will also permit lifting of third country cargo by India and Pakistani flag vessels from each others’ ports, which is expected to enhance tonnage under both the flags and also result in competitive shipping rates.

But the BJP on Friday demanded that India snap diplomatic relations with Pakistan if it did not stop supporting terrorist activities. “The Centre should immediately call the Pakistani High Commissioner and ask him to ensure that the terrorist activities in India stop within one month, or else diplomatic ties with Islamabad will be snapped".

IMO: It would be a good thing to improve India/Pak relations and I for one would favour this. I deeply concur with the BJP worries but without trying to be brash, Pak is a failed nation and up to a point a puppet of the US and some off colour Wahabis. So it all needs balance, at least the ISI kingpins seem to be being caught. Anyway I hope for the best and a good deal of vigilance. At least, the BJP seems to be trying to fill the important role of opposition party in a democracy.