Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Islamabad, May 4 (NNN) : It was the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community in Pakistan, Prince Karim Aga Khan, who led the backdoor diplomatic efforts to break the Indo-Pak impasse, according to newspaper reports here.
At least two knowledgeable ruling politicians and a few senior Pakistani officials are crediting intense background efforts of Aga Khan for the diplomatic breakthrough between Islamabad and New Delhi that in the past few days again ignited hope of a durable peace.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee surprised the world in the past two weeks when he suddenly offered 'decisive' peace talks and restoration of full diplomatic relations with Pakistan.

Informed senior Pakistani officials and top ruling politicians have now said that they believed that besides the continuing diplomatic pressure from Washington, the personal efforts of Prince Karim Aga Khan over the past two weeks played a crucial role in encouraging the Indian leadership, particularly Prime Minister Vajpayee, to initiate fresh efforts to resolve Kashmir issue with Pakistan.

'It seemed that Aga Khan devoted much of his time behind the glare of publicity in April in breaking ice between New Delhi and Islamabad,' divulged an informed a diplomatic source, who didn