After more than a week of escalating tensions, the situation in the South Asian region is shown promising signs. The borders are relatively calm than what they were in the days when India and Pakistan indulged in aerial combat for the first time in about fifty years. Amid fears of war, the two nuclear arch-rivals exhibited restraint and maturity which has chalked a course for better relations between them in future. While New Delhi has been cautious with its actions and reactions, Islamabad has also shown a welcome resolve to better the relations and usher the region into a new era of peace and prosperity. A positive and very important signal in this direction has come in the form of a massive clampdown on Jaish-e-Mohammad in Pakistan. According to reports, 40 top leaders of various outfits, including the Jaish chief’s brother and son, have been arrested in nationwide crackdown on militant outfits. This has come after New Delhi shared dossiers on the outfit, which claimed responsibility for the deadly February 14 suicide bombing in Pulwama, with Islamabad and asked the country to take action against outfits responsible for carrying out attacks on security forces in Kashmir. On the face of it, now that Islamabad has reciprocated, the action against Jaish and other outfits is a welcome step that needs to be taken forward. This is a moment for building bridges between voices of sanity who can weave a prosperous future for the two countries where they live by each other’s happiness and not by each other’s misery. Although more needs to be done to bring the perpetrators of Pulwama suicide attack and other attacks on security forces to justice, New Delhi must reciprocate this gesture of Pakistan. Already the country’s prime minister Imran Khan has taken unprecedented steps to deescalate the tensions, including the release of the Indian Air Force wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman who was captured after his MIG 21 Bison was down by the army of the neighbouring country last week. He has come across as a sensible politician who seems to be serious in what he says. As former ambassador K C Singh said on Twitter, Imran deserves a chance so that he can walk the talk. Terrorism is a hydra-headed monster that has taken immense toll on both India and Pakistan. While the jury is still out on its origins, time has come for the leadership in both countries to behave like adults, start a dialogue and resolve their outstanding issues, including Kashmir.