The subcontinent may witness a transformational moment if India and Pakistan succeed in calibrating themselves for an abiding engagement in a bid to promote peace and tranquillity in the region, an objective that has proved quite illusive so far. Odds in this regard are heavily stacked against the two countries, but the pursuit is worth the effort despite the unfortunate terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase, which has once again thrown a spanner in the works. The Indian prime minister had made a noteworthy move to reach out to Pakistan on his brief visit to Lahore. His Pakistani counterpart responded in the same spirit. Dates were set for the meeting of emissaries. Sceptics had their doubts about these talks, which in the past had been scuttled by inimical elements through violent cross-border attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, and inside India.