India not serious about talks: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 6 Pakistan today slammed India for `its effort aimed at imposing a military solution' on Kashmir and said that if India was sincere about resolution of the conflict, it should respond positively to the December 2 formulation of the military establishment.

Formally reacting to the offer of a political dialogue with all sections of peace-loving people of Jammu and Kashmir, contained in the latest policy statement on Kashmir, a spokesman of the Pakistan Foreign Office accused India of being not serious about finding a peaceful settlement to the imbroglio. Leave alone acknowledgement of the change in the nuance of the Indian statement on the offer of a bilateral dialogue, there was not even a mention of it in the three-para statement read out by the spokesman.

Perhaps the response of Pakistan Foreign Office could not have been different. In one of his latest interviews, the Pakistan Chief Executive and the military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, dubbed the Kashmir ceasefire a `farce'. In another interview he had dismissed the concerns of India arising out of activities from across the border as `baseless'.

The sum and substance of today's statement was that despite the professed declaration of ceasefire in Kashmir, the Indian forces ``continue their `terror campaign' and the latest statement is a reflection of its persistent effort to impose a military solution in Kashmir, avoid meaningful talks and mislead the world opinion.''

``The requirements of a meaningful dialogue were outlined in Pakistan's statement of December 2. India must stop its repression in Kashmir, respond to Pakistan's restraint, resume meaningful dialogue with Pakistan with the participation of the Kashmiri representatives and for this purpose allow the All-Party Hurriyat Conference to visit Pakistan for consultation,'' the statement said.

The spokesman said if India genuinely sought peace it should `abandon its policy of violence and state terrorism'. ``It must respond sincerely to Pakistan's proposal of December 2 for a settlement of the Kashmiri dispute consistent with the aspiration of the Kashmir people and in accordance with the Security Council resolutions'', he said.

When asked whether Pakistan intended to complain to the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on the `refusal' of India to resume the stalled dialogue, the spokesman said Mr. Annan, during his recent visit to the sub-continent had counselled both the countries to sit down at the negotiating table. ``His advice is a reflection of the world opinion. Refusal of India to heed the counsel shows its obduracy''.

Militant organisation in Pakistan virtually echoed the same sentiments. Within hours after the statement in New Delhi on Thursday, the Hizb-ul Mujahideen denounced it as a `gimmick'. Today it was the turn of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other militant outfits to debunk it.

The Jammu and Kashmir People's League (JKPL) dismissed the latest Indian statement as `senseless'. Its chairman, Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, said given the nature of Kashmir dispute, there was no scope for a bilateral dialogue. In a separate statement, the former Finance Minister and track-II activist, Dr. Mubashir Hasan, said the latest Indian offer would disappoint many in Pakistan and Kashmir. ``It is too much general. However, an offer, seemingly inadequate, is better than no offer''.

No peace without us: Hurriyat

SRINAGAR, APRIL 6. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference today termed the Vajpayee Government's Kashmir offer an exercise in futility. The Hurriyat chairman, Mr. Abdul Gani Bhat, said ``the manner in which New Delhi is dealing with the vexed Kashmir issue is without any purpose''.

``Unless the Centre fulfils its earlier commitment of allowing a Hurriyat delegation to visit Pakistan and Pakistan- occupied Kashmir (PoK) to hold talks with their counterparts and militant leaders there, no purpose can be served by entering into any kind of dialogue with the Government,'' he said. He, however, made it clear that Hurriyat was not against the spirit of dialogue and that an everlasting solution to Kashmir issue could be found through this medium alone.

On the Centre not putting any condition for the talks, Mr. Bhat said there was nothing new about it as Mr. Vajpayee had said the same thing a few months ago. ``We don't want to go by conditionalities. We would like to be guided by realities.'' Mr. Bhat said, ``Only determination and wisdom can help us achieve the desired result and not the nomination of a chief negotiator (Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Mr. K.C. Pant) to hold talks with us.''

He, however, added, ``I don't reject Mr. Pant's nomination. But if you repeat exercises undertaken by Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah (1975 Accord), where will we go then? All relevant parties to the dispute - India, Pakistan and the Hurriyat - would have to engage themselves in a meaningful dialogue to address the core issue of Kashmir.''

Echoing similar sentiments, former Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said New Delhi needed to give more clarification on its offer of talks. ``All that the Indian Government wants is the dialogue for the sake of peace. The offer makes no mention of any concrete initiative or even honest motive for a permanent solution,'' the Mirwaiz said.

- PTI

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