The Hindu : National : Not sidelining Kashmir, India assures Pakistan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2004

National

National

Not sidelining Kashmir, India assures Pakistan

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, DEC. 27. On the opening day of the second round of composite dialogue, India and Pakistan today agreed to continue the process on a sustained and serious basis, narrow down differences and work towards resolution of all issues.

The Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, who led the Indian side at the talks was upbeat about the course of the dialogue and told a news conference that while there was progress on some of the proposals, more discussion was required on others. His reference was the wide gap in perception on both sides about conventional Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) and differences on nuclear CBMs.

In the course of three-hour-long meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress made so far on the composite dialogue, held an "in-depth discussion" on peace and security and a host of CBMs. No new proposals were exchanged.

Tomorrow Jammu and Kashmir, which Pakistan believes is the `core issue' between India and Pakistan, would be discussed. Pakistan is not expected to make any new proposal and focus essentially on the subject of the need to `provide comfort to Kashmiris' theme enunciated by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, in July last year.

In other words Islamabad is expected to harp on the need for `reduction' of troops in Kashmir, `bettering' of the human rights situation in the valley and need for speedier movement towards resolution of the problem. The Indian position is that Kashmir is an internal issue and it is conscious of its responsibilities towards Kashmiris like any other Indian citizens.

Bus link

The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link is another ticklish issue that would figure at the meeting. The issue of travel documents as well as insistence of Pakistan that the service be limited to Kashmiris are the roadblocks. India does not agree with the Pakistani position of allowing travel on the bus without passports and visas. New Delhi has given up its position of stamping on the passport and proposed instead a travel document along with Pakistan. Islamabad is not reconciled to the idea.

At today's meeting the Foreign Secretary sought to put at rest apprehensions on the Pakistani side that India was putting premium on CBMs to sideline Kashmir. He told the Pakistani side that India was ready for a "serious and sustained dialogue" on Kashmir. At the same time he reminded about the "fundamental assurance" given by Gen. Musharraf in January about not allowing Pakistani soil for anti-India activities and emphasised that implementation of the promise was critical to take forward the process.

To questions Mr. Saran said that the "phenomena of cross-border terrorism" have not ceased. Asked about the Indian position on consideration of whole part of Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India, the Foreign Secretary said that it was the legal position. Mr. Saran said there could be no instant solutions particularly to a complex issue such as Jammu and Kashmir given the sentiments of people in both the countries. He maintained that sustained and serious engagement was the only way forward for resolution of differences.

Asked about possible time frame for resolution of Kashmir, the Foreign Secretary quipped "the sooner the better. But there could be no artificial time frame." The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, at a separate briefing echoed the same sentiments. He said that no time frame does not mean waiting till eternity.

The two sides are expected to finalise the calendar for meetings on six other items of the composite dialogue format. These include Sir Creek, economic cooperation, cultural interaction and Siachen. The process is expected to continue till June/July. The External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, could be here in February and Foreign Secretaries might have another round of talks in August.

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