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| Will Singh-Sharif meeting take place in New York ? | | |
If reports from across the LOC are any
guide Islamabad is trying its best to ar-
range a meeting between Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh,and his Pak counterpart,Nawaz Sharif in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month.In fact Islamabad wants to showcase ths meeting to convey an impression in the world that Pakistan has been quite keen to resolve all the bilateral problems with India through talks.This strategy was being adopted to facilitate Pakistan to conceal its role in exporting terror to India.And to set the stage for the possible Singh-Sharif talks the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, T.C.A. Raghavan, met with Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security, Sartaj Aziz, at the Foreign Office the other day.The two reportedly discussed the details of a meeting that is likely to take place between Prime Minister Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month.The September meeting is also important for the United States, since the Obama administration hopes to improve stability in Afghanistan as foreign troops are scheduled to withdraw from the war-torn country in 2014. President Hamid Karzai will also be present in New York at the time.
As was expected the two officials discussed India-Pakistan relations, which have been somewhat tense as of late due to the recent exchanges of fire between soldiers posted at the Line of Control (LoC).The tension on both sides of the border, which has been going on since August, has restricted residents to their homes, making it difficult for them to step out without fearing casualties.Aziz said the impending meeting of the prime ministers of the neighbouring countries would be a step towards improving relations, adding that it was an effective way to clarify confusions.The adviser stressed that Pakistan was looking to foster cordial ties with India, adding that the September meeting between the two premiers would go a long way to addressing misunderstandings from the past.Well Aziz may not be unaware of the fact that India has been always in favour of bilateral dialogue for resolving various issues despite Pakistan's attempt at needling the neighbor with terrorist strike.Indian reopened the channels of dialogue despite the Pak sponsored mayhem in Mumbai in 2008. India did not shut the doors for dialogue even when militants,trained in Pakistan,carried out series of bomb and grenade explosions in various crowded places in India.
And if the series of talks between Islamabad and New Delhi failed to be result oriented the onus lies on Pakistan which has displayed inflexible attitude during the talks.When the Indian side wanted to discuss terrorism or Siachen or Sir Creek the Pakistani sides kept on demanding that all talks be Kashmir centric.Islamabad has been demanding that the Kashmir issue should remain on top of the agenda for bilateral dialogue.
Yes,New Delhi is not shy of discussing the Kashmir issue but it has effused to stomach Islamabad's repeated pleas for implementing the UN resolution on Kashmir.Pakistan should realize that the political and security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed fluctuations and material change during the last forty years when compared to what it was in 1948 when the UN adopted the resolution on Kashmir.If Pakistan wants any future dialogue to be result oriented it should first of all adopt flexible attitude during talks.Also,it should stop aiding and assisting militants and in exporting terror to India.Its agencies,including the Army and the ISI need to stop helping militants in crossing into Jammu and Kashmir.Once agencies stopped using the soil of Pakistan for exporting terror to India it may encourage New Delhi to initiate added confidence building measures and promote cordial ties with ts neighbor,which was key to peace in the South Asian region.Choice lies with Pakistan. |
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