The Hindu : International : `China model not relevant in India, Pakistan relations'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 31, 2004

International

International

`China model not relevant in India, Pakistan relations'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MAY 30 . There is a sense of unease in Pakistan over comments attributed to the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, that India would like Pakistan to emulate "Chinese model" in resolution of differences even as Islamabad taking every opportunity to establish contacts with the new Government in New Delhi at the highest level.

This was evident from two separate developments. The Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, telephoned the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, as Foreign Ministry joined issue with Mr. Natwar Singh on "Chinese model" and that Pakistan should not prioritise Kashmir to the exclusion of all other issues.

On his return from a trip to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Jamali chose to establish telephonic contact with Dr. Singh and reiterated his Government's resolve to bring about durable peace between the two countries and forge cooperative relations with all countries of the region. According to a statement, Mr. Jamali told the Prime Minister that Pakistan sincerely believed that peace and tension-free relations were important for the prosperity and progress of both the countries.

The leadership of both the countries had to play a vital role in overcoming hurdles that may come during the process, he said while adding peace was the need and desire of the people of both countries. Pakistan looked forward to an early resumption of Foreign Secretary level talks so that the process of dialogue could move forward.

The statement added that Dr. Singh thanked Mr. Jamali for his letter of felicitation and told him that India would move forward with a positive approach for improvement of relations. "We should continue to move forward with confidence-building measures as this would facilitate and pave the way for discussions on Kashmir," the Prime Minister reportedly told Mr. Jamali.

Dr. Singh appreciated Pakistan's unilateral decision of ceasefire along the Line of Control which had augured well and said: "We should continue this" as it helped in creating an atmosphere for purposeful dialogues.

Dr. Singh also lauded Mr. Jamali's interest in sports and emphasised the importance of continuing sporting contacts between the two countries.

Separately, the Foreign Ministry has rejected reported comments of Mr. Natwar Singh on "Chinese model" and argued that Kashmir issue "cannot be swept under the carpet." A spokesman claimed that the status quo on Kashmir dispute was not a solution rather it would perpetuate the problem between Islamabad and New Delhi.

"The Indian External Affairs Minister's talk about the advisability of modelling India-Pakistan engagement along the lines of Sino-India negotiations is filled with "logical fallacies," said the statement.

The spokesman said the Jammu and Kashmir "dispute" was neither a border issue nor it was about empty spaces, saying the dispute pertains to the aspirations and political future of the 13 million Kashmiri people living in a territory of roughly 85,000 square miles. Thus the two models referred by India were not comparable, the statement said, adding the Sino-India model may be good in its own right.

The statement said the Kashmir issue was not required to look into perspective of putting the dispute on the backburner or the front burner, as the underlying object lesson was that it could not be swept under the carpet. "The challenge is to inject vision and statesmanship into the dialogue process, invest it with strong political will, and pursue it on the basis of reciprocity in order to break the deadlock and find lasting solutions."

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