India and Pakistan's national security advisors are slated to meet on August 23-24 in

New Delhi. According to the agenda set by the two prime ministers, the two NSAs
are to discuss terrorism. There has been the usual political slugfest between the
ruling party and those in the Opposition.

In the noise and din, a central point that has been lost is that these are basic
contacts meant to keep the communication going and are NOT any kind of
negotiations. But with the latest twist of Pakistani invitations to Kashmiri
separatists, it seems that the talks may well not take place at all!

I am of the firm view that even under the most trying circumstances,
communications between the two nuclear-armed countries must continue. At the
same time I am opposed to any kind of negotiations/broad-based talks with Pakistan
till the time that country does not halt its sponsorship of terror in India.

Going even further, India must stop even cultural and sports exchanges since these
have failed to have a desired effect. Cultural ties and people to people contacts
have made no difference to widely held Pakistani misperceptions about India.

Those with short memories and supporters of cultural and sporting ties need to be
reminded that the boycott of apartheid-practicing South Africa was never
questioned. In fact my own studies of the South African conflict have shown that
this was one of the reasons for the collapse of the racist regime. Many South African
leaders confirmed this to me during my visit there.

NSA level contacts are of a different kind and more akin to the 'hotline' between the
United States and erstwhile Soviet Union or the regular secret contacts these
countries maintained in Warsaw, Poland, even at the height of Cold War tensions.

The purpose of these talks was that tensions and minor crises should not spiral out
of control and lead to escalation to nuclear weapons use. The purpose of the current
NSA level talks is similar. If there is one point on which both India and Pakistan
agree is that nuclear war must be avoided at all costs.

The current bout of cross-border firing and shelling has the potential to escalate to
the international border not just in Jammu and Kashmir, but even Punjab. Here the
dice is heavily loaded against Pakistan. Compared to it, Indian territory along the
border is much less densely populated and hence the collateral damage is greater
in Pakistan.

In addition the area of Pakistani Punjab that is affected by the firings is also the
recruitment area for the Pakistani army ranks. Thus the families of soldiers are
directly affected. One can clearly see the reason for the Pakistani initiative.

The Pakistani NSA needs to understand that the fundamental reason for the current
crisis in relations is directly linked to Pakistan's inability to appreciate the political
change that has taken place in India. Narendra Modi came to power with a clear
mandate and is no believer in the policy of turning the other cheek.