The Hindu : International / India & World : Pakistan criticises LoC fencing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 13, 2004

International

International - India & World

Pakistan criticises LoC fencing

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 12 . Amid growing domestic criticism of the perceived silence of Islamabad over the fencing of the Line of Control (LoC) by India, Pakistan today maintained that the barbed wire fence would be a "bonanza for scrap dealers."

Since the Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Riaz Khokhar, remarked after his recent visit to New Delhi that "fences do not matter ultimately," a section of the Pakistani press and civil society have expressed doubts whether Islamabad has given a go-ahead for the Indian fencing.

After the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared wall built by Israel in the West Bank illegal, a debate has been raging in Pakistan as to why the establishment was allowing India to construct a fence along the LoC when peace talks were on.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, appeared to be ruffled when a correspondent asked him at the weekly briefing today about the country's reaction to the ICJ declaration and how it could be compared to the construction of the fence along the LoC.

Initially he tried to make light of the question with his observation that the fence on the LOC was "ek tar hai, deewar nahi hai (only a barbed wire and not a wall)." He went on to add that the fence did not alter the position of the LoC and was not a stumbling block between Kashmiris on both sides of the divide.

Mr. Khan's comment seemed more for the domestic audience as only a few days ago Mr. Khokhar had given the impression that Pakistan was no longer seriously concerned about the fence as in the past.

Concern over defence budget

He also said that the increase of Indian defence budget raised legitimate concerns in Pakistan and other neighbouring countries. "The formations of Indian army, navy and air force are directed against Pakistan and increase in defence budget is naturally a cause for concern."

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Pakistan criticises LoC fencing