The Hindu : Kashmir policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 29, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Kashmir policy

Sir, — India's Kashmir policy is back to square one. The Prime Minister has discounted any peace talks at the U.N. Where are we headed now? Neither are we threading a hostile policy by attacking the `camps' across the LoC nor are we discussing alternatives over the table. Jingoistic utterances seem to be the only resort of our politicians. A solution to the Kashmir problem remains a pipe dream.

Jencil Philip,

Pathanamthitta, Kerala

* * *

Sir, — `Credit' is due to the politicians and bureaucrats of India and Pakistan for bringing an `informed debate' on Kashmir to the level of a street fight. They did all they could to eviscerate the already enfeebled peace process initiated in Srinagar by the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in two days in New York.

Kangayam R. Rangaswamy,

Wisconsin, U.S.

* * *

Sir, __ The revelation by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, that Osama bin Laden may be hiding in Pakistan is an indication that he has been offered refuge by our neighbour at some time or the other. Dawood Ibrahim, the main accused in the Mumbai serial blasts case, is said to be living in Karachi. The atrocities of Pakistan-trained extremists in Kashmir continue unabated. How can we have a `meaningful' dialogue with those who pinch the child and rock the cradle?

M. Rangaswamy,

Chennai

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Sir, — I read in your paper's website a letter by V.R.P. Sarathy of Chennai justifying Mr. Vajpayee's turning down of Pakistan's offer to help combat terrorism. It was disappointing. Has Pakistan blamed India for the violence in Karachi? Moderates in the two countries should come out of this type of political thinking.

Muhammad Rizwan Sardar,

Karachi, Pakistan

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Sir, — A lot has been written on cross-border terrorism, but more needs to be done. It has virtually annihilated Afghanistan, and it is a cancer growing in and around India. I hope India's policy makers perceive this as an issue beyond Kashmir and consider long-term measures to combat it.

V.K. Ranganathan,

Irvington, U.S.

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