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| Islamabad's 'no' to Jammu-Sialkot bus service | | Delhi opposes Pak proposal on Army presence in J&K | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, NOV. 15
India has, for the present, brushed aside Pakistan's proposal seeking reduction in the level of Indian militarty presence in Kashmir. As the Pakistani official delegation resumed the discussion on the Jammu and Kashmir front at the Foreign Secretary-level talks in the Indian capital on Wednesday, a proposal was floated by the Pak representatives for reduction in the level of Indian military presence in Kashmir.
That India was not willing to accept the Pakistani proposal became evident with the Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, expressing its reservations on the issue. In fact, the Indian official team, authoritative sources told EARLY TIMES, conveyed to the other side at the final day of the talks that the question of effecting a reduction in the level of the existing military presence in Kashmir cannot be expected to to be settled "here and now". The question, according to the Indian team, will have to be studied in the context of the two developments--first, continuing terrorist violence in Kashmir and, second, unabated cross-border infiltration and cros-border terrorism.
Even as the two sides discussed, among other things, the proposals for self-rule and joint management of Jammu and Kashmir, a clearer picture did not emerge mainly because of the differences of opinion betwen the two countries on these proposals. The two delegations also discussed the future of troops of the two countries in the Siachen sector of Ladakh. Again, the persisting differences between the two countries on the crucial issue of demilitarising the Siachen glacier led to the decision favouring further discussions on the matter at the Defence Secretary-level talks.
More importantly, India and Pakistan has agreed to set up a joint anti-terror mechanism which will have three officials from both the sides. It will be headed by Additional Secretary level officials dealing with international organisations and will be coordinated by the Foreign Office of both the countries, Pakistan Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan told a press conference at the conclusion of talks with his Indian counterpart, Shiv Shankar Menon.
What were the details given by India regarding the terrorist attacks in the country? Fielding this question, Riaz Mohammed Khan said that the Indian team had given "some material" which would be examined by Pakistan. He divulged that the two sides agreed that where it had specific information on incidents, they would exchange them. The two sides have also initialled a complete text on agreement for reduction of nuclear risks between the two countries. Khan hoped that a formal agreement in this regard would be signed soon.
On the last day of talks, Islamabad ruled out bus services on Jammu-Sialkot and Kargil-Skardu routes. The Pakistani delegation also expressed reservation on the opening up of Munabao-Khokrpar route for trade.
Significantly, however, both sides agreed on the need to release prisoners held for minor crimes. Pakistan also sought simplification of formalites for cross-border people-to-people contact. The two sides agreed to work on new dates for the launch of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad truck service.
Pakistan has sought consular access to Mohammed Fahad, the suspected Pakistani terrorist arrested in Mysore recently. Before the conclusion of the talks, India shared with Pakistan 'some evidence' of Islamabad's linkage with terrorist attacks in Delhi, Varanasi,Mysore and Bangalore and asked the latter to cooperate in fighting the 'menace of terrorism'.
On the Siachen issue -- on which Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, had claimed a settlement was on the cards in a few days -- Riaz Mohamed Khan said that talks were on and further discussions were needed. On the issue of authentication of areas held by the two sides on the glacier, he said that endorsement of a claim would be difficult. The effort was to resolve the Siachen issue and convert it into a mountain of peace, he said suggesting that there could be joint monitoring of the glacier.
Khan said that it would be dangerous folly for both the countries to try and destabilise each other. He said that in the last three years of the peace process, there had never been such focussed discussions on Kashmir like they had in the last two days. The two sides agreed to hold expert-level meeting on Sir Creek on December 22 and 23 to decide on a joint survey of the area, said to be rich in hydro-carbon deposits.
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