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Zardari calls for de-escalation of tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari called for a de-escalation of tensions with India on Monday, saying there was “a need to avoid further vitiation of the atmosphere.”

He made these remarks to the Chinese special envoy, He Yafei, who was in the Pakistan capital spearheading his government’s efforts to defuse the India-Pakistan crisis.

With a bilateral relationship that is described by both sides as “higher than the mountains and deeper than the seas,” China wields extraordinary influence in Pakistan.

Mr. He, who is also the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, was putting that influence to work almost from the minute he arrived in Islamabad on Sunday.

The flurry of statements by the Pakistani civilian and military leadership showed he had succeeded in at least toning down the rhetoric of the last few days, even if it was unclear what, if any, response he got from the Pakistan government on the Indian and international demand that it take action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.

The only indication of any development on that front was the absence of any mention by any of the Pakistani leaders of the complaint that they have made to others in the international community that India was not sharing evidence from the attacks, and it could take action only if this was done.

There was no word from the Chinese about the meetings.

According to statements put out by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, Mr. Zardari said Pakistan wanted peace and stability in the region.

“The President agreed on the need to avoid further vitiation of the atmosphere. Pakistan and India need to engage in dialogue to address their differences,” Mr. Zardari is said to have told Mr. He.

But he also regretted that “instead of responding to Pakistan’s positive gestures [assistance and cooperation to investigate the Mumbai incident], India had engaged in a blame-game, which was counter-productive.”

He said Pakistan’s “constructive proposals” were aimed at “sustained and pragmatic cooperation” to deal with the problem of terrorism.

Mr. He is said to have “appreciated Pakistan’s positive approach in the current crisis and said that efforts should continue to resolve the issues in an amicable manner.” Mr. He met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Sunday.

Mr. Qureshi is said to have told Mr. He that Pakistan was “playing a pro-active role” in the fight against terrorism in compliance with its international obligations, and would “continue to take effective measures against terrorism and extremism, as this was in its own interest.”

He also recalled the offer of joint investigations to India, and describing the absence of response from New Delhi as “unfortunate,” he expressed the hope that New Delhi would review its stance.

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