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| Pak to woo India through release of prisoners | | |
Though India continues to be peeved
over the continued ceasefire violations
by the Pakistani troops it is still in favour of resuming the process of dialogue with Pakistan.No doubt New Delhi has decided to go slow with the Pak demand for reopening of the channels of dialogue,it has not loudly shut the doors for talks.This is indicated by the lat est statement of the External Affairs Minister,Salman Khurshid. Even amid heightened tension with Pakistan over the LoC killings of Indian soldiers, Salman Khurshid has said "persistent dialogue" is a better option to normalise ties with neighbours."War is no solution. Persistent dialogue is definitely a better alternative through which we are trying to normalise ties with our neighbours," the minister has stated Khurshid's comments came against the backdrop of strident demands from the BJP asking the government not to resume the dialogue process with Pakistan till it stops ceasefire violations as also anti-India acts emanating from its soil.The killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani Army along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector on August six triggered a countrywide outrage with even the Congress urging the Government to factor in public sentiments while dealing with Islamabad.This suggests that New Delhi is willing to talk to Islamabad.
New Delhi knows that the new Pakistan Prime Minister,Nawaz Sharif,is yet to keep the Army and the ISI under his grip.And by announcing that Delhi has shut its doors for talks it would simply add to the problems being faced by Sharif.New Delhi has many reasons to choke the channels of dialogue but in doing so it would simply strengthen the hands of the Army and the ISI in Pakistan.Experts in the PMO and the Foreign Affairs Ministry want that Nawaz should be given more time to settle down because till this day the new establishment in Islamabad has neither dished out any anti-India statement nor taken any stand that could be seen as an affront by Delhi.Hence Nawaz needs more time so that he could have his say without direct or indirect interfereence from the Army and the ISI. Possibly Sharif is waiting for the current Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani to hang his boots after is extended term expires towards the end of November.Since Kayani was picked up for the top post by former military ruler,Gen.Pervez Musharraf,Sharif does not trust any Musharraf's man because it was Musharraf who had staged a coup against Sharif forcing Nawaz to spend about 14 years in political wilderness and in exile.
As far as Pakistan Government is concerned its is taking in hand measures that could help the two sides to r educe the trust deficit.And even aminf fresh tension on the LOC Islamabad has announced its decision to release 367 Indian prisoners next week.It is aimed at sending a positive message to its neighbour amid high tension arising out of firing along the Line of Control (LoC), sources said today.The two sides are trying to ease pressure along the LoC after around two weeks of ceasefire violations that started after five Indian soldiers were killed in an attack by Pakistani troops early this month.Hundreds of prisoners are currently being lodged in jails on both sides.
Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, told parliament yesterday that there were 491 Indian prisoners, including 437 fishermen and 54 civilians, in Pakistani prisons.He has said the record with the Foreign Office suggested that there were at least 485 Pakistanis jailed in India, including 172 fishermen and 313 civilians. But the latest list provided by India on July 1 under a Consular Agreement shows that there are 386 prisoners in Indian jails, including 108 fishermen.Aziz said the discrepancy of 99 prisoners had been taken up with the Indian authorities.Reports indicate that the two sides may try to reduce trust deficit by exchanging more prisoners.This step alongwith improved people to people contact and bilateral trade could be basis for confidence building measures but above all Pakistai troops have to stop ceasefire violations if Islamabad hopes to encourage and motivate New Delhi on resumption of dialogue. |
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