The Hindu : Front Page : India, Pakistan discuss peace and security

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 28, 2004

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Front Page

India, Pakistan discuss peace and security

By Amit Baruah

BONHOMIE ALL AROUND: Foreign Secretary Shashank with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Khokhar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI, JUNE 27. The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan, Shashank and Riaz Khokhar, discussed a wide range of subjects, including terrorism and the reduction of troop levels, under the broad rubric of peace and security in three-and-a-half hours of talks at Hyderabad House here today.

A joint statement on a number of points of agreement such as raising the staff strength of High Commissions, reopening of consulates and a calendar to discuss other issues such as Siachen, Sir Creek, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges is expected after the Foreign Secretaries talk on Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow.

It is the first time in recent history that the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries have met with guns silent along the Line of Control (LoC). The ceasefire, agreed to between the two countries on November 26 last year, continues to hold.

Though the spokesmen of the External Affairs Ministry and the Pakistani Foreign Office, Navtej Sarna and Masood Khan, briefed presspersons separately, the opening statements made by both of them were identical — indicating that both sides were in broad agreement on how to approach the talks.

Both spokesmen said the Foreign Secretaries "met today to commence the composite dialogue. They discussed the subject of peace and security, including confidence-building measures. Ideas and proposals were exchanged to take the process further. Discussions were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Talks tomorrow will be on Jammu and Kashmir."

Bus service discussed

A proposal to hold technical talks on commencing the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service was also discussed. "There was a general exchange of views. Decisions, if any, will be announced tomorrow," Mr. Khan said at his briefing.

Asked whether Pakistan had raised the issue of the handing over of Jinnah House in Mumbai to which Islamabad had previously linked the reopening of consulates, he said: "Our known positions were reiterated. The subject was discussed. Decisions will be taken and you will come to know about them tomorrow."

`No going back on statement on Kashmir'

In response to repeated questions on "what" was the Pakistani position on Kashmir, the spokesman said the issue should be resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. Pressed further, he said Pakistan was not going back on the January 6 press statement that referred to Jammu and Kashmir as one of the bilateral issues between the two countries.

"Kashmiris are a principal party to the dispute and a viable, just solution has to be based on the aspirations of the Kashmiri people," Mr. Khan stated, adding that Pakistan wanted the issue discussed at the level of the Foreign Ministers.

Asked whether the conclusions of experts on nuclear CBMs were discussed by the Foreign Secretaries, Mr. Sarna said: "Both sides were appreciative of the work done by the experts on the nuclear CBMs and by the results that have been achieved. As regards the draft agreement [on prior notification of missile tests] ...that is a draft and needs further work. It needs comments from the other [Pakistani] side and further work before these things can be finalised ... "

On whether the issue of cross-border terrorism was discussed, Mr. Khan said his country opposed terrorism of every kind. Terrorism, he suggested, was not a problem that confronted India and Pakistan alone, but the whole world.

Asked whether Pakistan had given an explanation for continuing acts of cross-border terrorism in India, he gave a sharp response. "We owe explanations to nobody, we don't give explanations. These are talks taking place between two sovereign states. They state their positions and try to resolve issues between them."

On whether the question of infiltration from Pakistani-controlled territory had come up, Mr. Khan said the issue was discussed, but chose not to give any details. The Foreign Secretaries would come out with their decisions tomorrow, he promised.

Islamabad, he said, supported national, regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and specifically referred to the SAARC additional protocol to the convention against terrorism that was agreed to in January by the seven-member grouping.

Calling for a sustained dialogue, Mr. Khan said the talks should be a "continuous curve" and not a spurt. The Foreign Ministers, he said, would review the current round of talks, in August, as per the agreed calendar, and there could be summit meetings in future if political direction was required.

Reiterating that the dialogue process was moving in a positive direction, he added: "This is a historic moment. Our political leaderships are trying to come up with solutions that are acceptable to the people of India, Pakistan and Kashmir."

`Talks will not be affected'

Turning to the resignation of the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, on Saturday, Mr. Khan said it would have no bearing on the composite dialogue process with India. "This is an internal political dynamic. A transition is taking place. It has had no impact on the talks between the two Foreign Secretaries."

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