Kashmir issue

Sir, - Irrespective of what the Government says, CNN announced that President Clinton will discuss and try to find a solution to the Kashmir problem, described as the ``nuclear flashpoint in South Asia''! It stands to reason that India cannot discuss cross border terrorism with Pakistan in isolation, without a discussion on Kashmir. So why do we feel shy of a discussion on Kashmir? Let the Government state its known position about the whole of Jammu and Kashmir (including Pakistan occupied Kashmir) being an integral part of India, use the issue of PoK as a trade-off and settle for an ultimate solution of treating the Line of Control as the International Border. This should be accepted with a U.S.- sponsored/supervised commitment from Pakistan that cross border terrorism will be put an end to.

The ground reality is that we have not, in the last 52 years, ever tried to retain any part of PoK won in wars after great sacrifices by our servicemen. We have not made any deliberate effort, till date, for the recovery of our territory lost to both China and Pakistan. During the Kargil conflict, we made a deliberate decision not to cross the Line of Control, despite our official position on Kashmir.

Another reality is that we will have a lot of problems managing an unwilling and hostile part of (Pak. occupied) Kashmir in Indian Union.

V.R.P. Sarathy,

Chennai

Sir, - This is with reference to the article ``Increasing insensitivity'' (TheHindu, Feb. 29), decrying the inept way to contain terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh by the Centre and State Governments. I feel that the Centre and the States alone are not responsible for the lapse. There are a number of reasons to be considered. The unrestricted sale and smuggling of arms make it easy for the terrorists to acquire them. The black sheep in society collude with terrorists for loaves and fishes. This makes them successful in their sneaky strikes. The process of law stands in the way of the Government dealing with the perpetrators ruthlessly as and when they are caught. So the effective control of the menace has become almost impossible. Did any one imagine that Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi would die in terrorists' attack? The latest killing of the A.P. Minister, A. Madhava Reddy, shows how powerful are the designs of the terrorists to destabilise the nation.

A coordinated effort by the States and the Centre and continuous vigil will help contain terrorism to some extent.

N. R. Desai,

Tirupati

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