THE door that remained slammed shut for the last about one and a half years for any worthwhile communication between New Delhi and Islamabad has opened. The two countries are within a striking range of having talks -- hopefully, with a change of heart. Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee's sagacious overture responded to by the Pakistani leadership with aplomb, is making possible what looked like an impossibility only the other day. One is tempted to surmise though that they being caught in the whirlpool of geo-political complexities fostered by the US-British occupation of Iraq, a new realism may have sunk in them to mend their bruised relations. The two countries having gone nuclear with missilery capabilities need to give each other space in spite of the so-called deterrence of the mutually assured destruction factor.

Let's catalogue the warm-up gestures. Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday received a formal invitation from Pakistan prime minister Zafrullah Jamali to visit Islamabad. Just a day earlier, the Indian prime minister had announced the restoration of full diplomatic and air links with Pakistan cut off almost 17 months ago after gunmen alleged to have been sponsored by Islamabad carried out an attack on the Indian parliament. Sitting well with the outlook, a dozen Pakistani parliamentarians are visiting New Delhi next week by way of building people-to-people rapport.

President Musharraf had made offers for talks to India earlier on, but the latter would spurn these saying resumption of dialogue were contingent upon Pakistan stopping cross-border infiltration and terrorism. Pakistan banned some Islamic militant groups which India didn't apparently consider enough so that she kept harping on that point. But now it seems that talks are poised to be held without any preconditions. This itself is a welcome sign.

Vajpayee has received all-party support behind his initiative for a dialogue with Islamabad. Significantly, he has called for 'careful preparations' so as to ensure a meaningful engagement at the highest level. There is a perception that his Agra bid for peace had suffered from lack of careful planning. The Lahore visit was more of a success because of good preparations.

Vajpayee adds an emotive note to his latest bid calling it the 'last' in his lifetime. "After two experiences," he seems confident, "the third round of talks will be decisive."

We congratulate him on his developing an emotional stake in the matter hoping that Pakistani leadership will not be wanting in reciprocating the sentiments. Basically though, India and Pakistan should be driven by sheer pragmatism to come to terms with each other. The money they can save from their futile nuclear race could raise millions of their people from the depths of abject poverty and depravation. Overall, it will bring advancement not merely to India and Pakistan but also clear the course for regional prosperity. We, in the SAARC, are eager to see Islamabad and Delhi engaged in a meaningful and productive dialogue.