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| Mumbai blasts delay Kashmir issue solution | | Delhi for pre-1953 status for J&K: Pak paper | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, AUG. 9: Has the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh passed a 'non-paper' on to Islamabad favouring pre-1953 status for Jammu and Kashmir? This question has triggered animated whispers in Delhi following the revelation made by a Pakistani newspaper vis-a-vis Delhi offer's to Pakistan of "autonomy for Kashmir".
The Pakistani newspaper, The Nation, which is known for its close conections with higher-ups in Islamabad's power corridors, has just reported: "Prior to the Mumbai bomb blasts there was a marked progress in the peace process to the extent that New Delhi offered even 'autonomy for Kashmir' through a non-paper to its nuclear rival but Saturday's (August 5) tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats by both Pakistan and India proved a serious setback to the already stalled dialogue proces".
This revelation, significantly, came at a time when, in Pakistan, the ruling political class was reportedly encouraging the spread of talk about India's proposals on Kashmir for the consideration of Pakistan--of Gen. Parvez Musharraf, to be precise. Equally signifcant was the absence of New Delhi's official reaction to such a talk.
And when the Pakistani English daily, The Nation, put out a detailed story on the subject (New Delhi's 'non-paper' on Jammu and Kashmir) this August 7, neither Indian High Commission in Pakistan nor the government of India had any word to offer. The Nation revealed: "It was days before the Mumbai blasts that Pakistan received a 'non-paper' on Kashmir from India containing the proposal of autonomy to Kashmiri people but within its Constituion".
Little is known in Delhi about India's 'non-paper' on Kashmir to Pakistan. However, if the report of The Nation were to be believed, New Delhi would allow pre-1953 status for J&K under the Constituion of India. The Nation said: "The proposal on Kashmir's autonomy calls for the return to its pre-1953 constitutional condition which means that all its affairs, sans defence, foreiogn affairs and cvommunications, would be run by the State government.... Nonetheless, the deadly blasts in India's financial capital changed the whole scenario with ties between the two countries coming under duress reflectged well by the4 expulsion of each other's diplomats on Saturday".
What else is in the 'non-paper'? According to the Pakistani publication, India "also offered to reduce more troops in Kashmir in case of end to subversive acts" in Indian Kashmir by the militants with the "alleged support from elements across the Line of Control". The Nation further says: "Besides, New Delhi also expressed its willingness to set free the Kashmiri detainees not involved in terrorist acts".
The Pakistani publication let it be known that he Indian 'non-paper' was in response to the Pakistan President, Gen. Parvez Musharraf's proposals with regard to "de-militarization, self-governance and joint management of Kashmir to resolve the core issue on a permanent basis".
More importantly, the Pakistani newspaper has forecast: "No discussons on the Indian proposals are likely in the months to come". The newspaper, at the same time, opined that if the poeace process "is put back on the track, it could become a basis for formal discussions on Kashmir issue between the neighbours". |
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