It's for India to decide: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 24. Responding to observations made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, in New Delhi on Tuesday, Pakistan today said it desired a meaningful dialogue for peace, but maintained that ``you cannot clap with one hand.''

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, gave elaborate reasoning for Pakistan's apprehensions about Indian intentions and said that ``for resumption of meaningful dialogue there is need for political determination on the part of India.''

Mr. Khan's response came at the regular press briefing, even as the Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, earlier in the day called upon the United Nations to ensure the implementation of its resolutions on ``other issues.'' It was a clear reference to the 1948 Kashmir resolutions adopted under Chapter VI that cannot be enforced.

Mr. Khan complained that Pakistan had been hearing hostile and threatening noises from the Indian side in the recent weeks. Some important functionaries of the Indian Government had been talking of ``specific action,'' ``pro-active policy'' and ``hot pursuit.''

``These extraordinary circumstances required robust response to reassure our people that Pakistan is fully prepared to defend its unity and integrity,'' he said in an obvious reference to the recent statements made by the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, vis-a-vis India.

Mr. Khan said the resolutions adopted by the U.N. on Kashmir were under Chapter VI (not enforceable) and maintained that it was the case with a majority of the resolutions adopted by the U.N. during the Cold War era. The argument of Pakistan is that till 1990 in most cases resolutions under Chapter VII (enforceable) could not be adopted as one permanent member or the other exercised the veto power.

Earlier in the day, speaking at a function to mark the U.N. Day, Mr. Sattar said that while Pakistan had extended full cooperation to the U.N. Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), regrettably their work had been obstructed and the resolutions of the Security Council pledging self- determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir remained unimplemented.

On the influx of refugees from Afghanistan, Mr. Sattar said that although Pakistan's capacity was limited and stamina strained, it was trying its best to lend services in kind for the temporary care of the displaced persons.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Hot pursuit option still open: Advani
Next     : Taliban stays put despite bombardment