WASHINGTON, Nov 15: Pakistan’s “under-whelming reaction” to India’s recent peace overture highlights the practical limitations of President Pervez Musharraf’s leadership, says a Washington Times editorial published on Saturday.

“Gen Musharraf surely sees the strategic importance of resolving disagreements with India, but his range of action is constrained by powerful Pakistani military and intelligence officials and Islamic politicians. These factions check Gen Musharraf’s power, but they have also been given a boost by the president, as he seeks to neutralize support for more mainstream political parties,” says the editorial.

The newspaper claims that Pakistan originally responded gruffly to the Indian peace proposal, rebuking India for not putting negotiations over Kashmir on the table for discussions. “Since then, Islamabad has become savvier. Pakistan Information and Broadcasting Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said while in New Delhi this week that his government viewed India’s proposals with optimism. But Pakistan has not yet responded comprehensively to India’s proposals,” says the papers.

It notes that Islamabad appears to be concerned that granting India overflight rights would allow India to establish frequent flights to Afghanistan, thereby strengthening India’s relationship with Afghanistan. “And in this area Gen Musharraf’s leadership is also limited. Pakistan’s military and intelligence community see Afghanistan not as a neighbour and partner, but rather as a place where Pakistan can broaden its strategic depth. This faction is keen on competing against Indian influence in Afghanistan and resists cracking down on former Taliban officials, in the belief they can someday rise to power and re-establish Pakistan’s sway over Afghanistan.”

India, the Washington Times says, could help Gen Musharraf deal with these elements “if it takes its negotiations with Kashmiris seriously and holds open the possibility of eventual talks on the issue with Pakistan. Although New Delhi is negotiating from a position of strength, it would benefit in seeing the Kashmir issue resolved. Also, India should make its peace proposals unconditional to achieve the confidence building it claims it is targeting.”

The newspaper describes Gen Musharraf’s rule in Pakistan as “a mixed blessing for America, providing stability and furthering some US goals, while undermining others — which is why helping the nuclear-armed Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir issue remains a key US priority.”

This objective, the Times say, can only be achieved with serious and sustained external pressure. “The leaders of both countries benefit from having the Kashmir issue stew at a low boil. But international security is undermined by this policy, and the Kashmiri people also suffer. America and others must keep up the pressure and guidance for a resolution.”