The Hindu : India rejects Musharraf's contention on joint statement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 15, 2004

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India rejects Musharraf's contention on joint statement

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, MARCH 14. India today rejected the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's contention that there was any "so-called central or core" issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the January 6 joint press statement issued by the two countries.

In the first exchange of words since the bonhomie of January, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman said: "Double standards in describing the violent attack on him [Gen. Musharraf] as terrorism, but on the J&K Assembly in October 2001, and on the present Chief Minister [Mufti Mohammed Sayeed] recently, as a `freedom fight' are clearly not tenable."

"Any unilateral interpretation of the joint press statement is not conducive to building trust, or taking the process forward; nor is public rhetoric, which is also contrary to the understandings and restraints observed since January," the spokesman said in a sharp reaction to Gen. Musharraf's reported comments in an address by satellite to an India Today conclave on Saturday.

It is for the first time the Government of India has indicated that there was an understanding in Islamabad that the two countries would avoid making public attacks and statements against each other.

The language of the January 6 Islamabad Joint Press Statement was clear and unambiguous, the spokesman said. "It delineates how the process has to be sustained and taken forward. Violence, hostility and terrorism must be prevented."

"The President of Pakistan had reassured the Prime Minister of India [Atal Bihari Vajpayee] that he would not permit the territory under Pakistan's control to be used to support terrorism in any manner. There is no reference to any so-called central or core issue, but to addressing all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir."

The reality of the vast goodwill among the people of the two countries, clearly manifested today, and being further consolidated through confidence-building measures needs to be acknowledged and built upon, the spokesman stressed.

"Contrary efforts would not be in keeping with the sentiments of the people in both the countries". India, the spokesman added, was determined to continue with the process initiated by Mr. Vajpayee, in April last year, and on the basis of the framework agreed upon in Islamabad.

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