Measured optimism to Pak. offer

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, DEC. 5. India today acknowledged that Pakistan had reduced firing along the Line of Control (LoC) and hoped that it would follow it up with concrete additional steps which would address New Delhi's ``many concerns'' on cross-border terrorism.

In its first formal reaction to the Pakistan's December 2 statement saying it would exercise ``maximum restraint'' along the LoC, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed measured optimism. ``The Government hopes this statement of Pakistan is the precursor of a meaningful change in its attitude.''

``There has been a marked reduction in firing across the LoC,'' an MEA spokesperson said at his daily briefing. Besides, infiltration by militants had dropped. But denying Pakistan credit, he said the fall in infiltration should be attributed to the enhanced vigilance of the security forces.

But Pakistan, the statement added, needed to take concrete steps to push the budding ``peace process'' forward. First, Pakistan, responding to the initiatives of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, should ``cease promotion of cross- border terrorism''. ``We expect Pakistan to address our concerns and those of the international community about cross-border terrorism, infiltration into India, and aiding and abetting violence.''

India, it warned, would ``robustly'' meet any attempt by Islamabad to push terrorists during the month of Ramzan. Rejecting a role for international monitoring along the LoC, the MEA reiterated that ``there is no role of any kind for any third party here''.

Swears by bilateralism

Second, India rejected the format of ``tripartite talks'' as proposed by Pakistan. Committed to the principle of bilateralism, New Delhi, however, was ready to base its engagement which Pakistan on the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. In fact, the MEA statement sought a clarification from Pakistan on its disposition to these agreements. References to ``earlier agreements'' in the Pakistani statement, it hoped, reflected Islamabad's adherence to principles laid out in the Shimla and Lahore doctrines.

On Pakistan's open-ended proposal for a ``dialogue'', the MEA said any future dialogue with Islamabad should be based on the ``composite dialogue process'' which has been initiated prior to the Kargil war.

Third, India was ready to open a separate track for talks with ``all parties and groups in Jammu and Kashmir, including also the militants''. But a decision on the modalities will be taken by India. Keeping the door open for extension of the ceasefire, the statement said the Government will announce a ``further course of action'' after Ramzan.

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