Thursday, Dec 16, 2004
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India & World
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
ISLAMABAD, DEC. 15. India and Pakistan talks on nuclear and conventional confidence building measures (CBMs) aimed at reducing the risk of accidental war and promoting strategic stability ended here today on an upbeat mood with Pakistan declaring that South Asia was no longer a ``nuclear flashpoint.'' Addressing a joint press conference leader of Pakistani delegation, Tariq Osman Hyder, said that with India and Pakistan in dialogue mode and ``progress on important issues'' related to nuclear CBMs, South Asia was no longer a nuclear flashpoint. "We are currently in the process of consolidation of the gains (from the peace process)," he said in response to a specific question on how far India and Pakistan have moved on nuclear risk reduction.
Considerable progress
The Additional Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, Meera Shankar, who led the Indian side on talks related to nuclear CBMs, maintained that the objective behind the parleys was nuclear risk reduction and considerable progress has been made in some areas of the proposals already exchanged. Diplomatic observers here have noted that for the first time since the 1998 nuclear tests by India and Pakistan, a senior Foreign Office functionary has conceded that South Asia was no longer a nuclear flashpoint. Pakistan has been harping on the theme of South Asia as a nuclear flashpoint in the context of Kashmir and the India-Pakistan tension. In contrast to the good progress achieved at the talks on nuclear CBMs, the round on conventional CBMs has hardly moved forward. Pakistan did not respond to any of the nine proposals mooted by India in June on military CBMs and instead focused on the concept of `strategic restraint regime' envisaging conventional military balance. The Indian contention is that unlike Pakistan whose defence build-up is India-centric, defence build-up and requirements are not country-specific and the equation is much more complex. "It is impractical on the part of Pakistan to expect parity in conventional military strength with India. Hence at least so far there is no meeting point on conventional CBMs", an official privy to the talks said. Though considerable progress was made on some of the proposals at the nuclear CBM talks, none of the proposals could be finalised as work on them is still in progress. Draft agreement on advance notification of missile tests and establishment of a hotline between two Foreign Secretaries and upgradation of existing hotline between the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) were the focus of the nuclear CBM talks. Both sides have agreed in principle in June, at the first round of talks, on an agreement for advance notification on missile tests as well as a hotline link. The idea of agreement on missile tests is to formalise an informal arrangement whereby both sides give advance notice. India had given the draft to the Pakistani side at the June talks. It appears that only a few days ago Islamabad had communicated its comments on the draft. The Indian delegation had come armed with a revised draft on the basis of Pakistan's comments and views were exchanged on the new draft. "There are no hurdles to the agreement. These kind of agreements are complex and take time. We have made progress on important issues and would continue the discussions at the level of Foreign Secretaries when they meet here on December 27 and 28", Ms. Shankar said at the news conference. On operationalisation of the hotline between the two Foreign Secretaries, India has already given Pakistan a set of proposals on establishment of a "dedicated and secure" link. Pakistan conveyed to the Indian side that its technical experts were looking into the matter. The sense from both sides is it would be sooner than later before the hotline is in place. It could involve either optical fibre or satellite link. The talks on conventional CBMs from the Indian side were led by Joint Secretary of External Affairs Ministry, Arun Singh while Mr. Hyder headed the Pakistani delegation. Given the divergence of views on the nature of conventional CBMs, there was no meeting point. India reminded about the nine military CBMs forwarded in June but got no response. Pakistan harped on the theme of `strategic restraint regime' implying on the need for some kind of military parity between India and Pakistan. The nine military CBMs proposed by India include an agreement on peace and tranquility on the Line of Control envisaging a series of measures; contact between Air Forces; Navies; Sectorial/Core Commanders; face to face meeting between DGMOs; exchange of naval ships and interaction between the defence think-tanks.
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