Terms for dialogue will stay: Jaswant

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, NOV. 24. The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, today made it clear to Pakistan that there could be no bargain on the terms of engagement which India had set for a resumption of the dialogue.

In his response to the debate on foreign policy in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Singh emphasised that the Government would not allow Islamabad to either fudge or try and negotiate on the question of ending cross-border terrorism.

There was some sentiment in the Rajya Sabha yesterday that India must engage Pakistan without any preconditions. Mr. Singh made it clear today that India was prepared to resume the composite dialogue with Pakistan only when Pakistan stopped support to violence across the border.

The unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir set to begin on the first day of Ramzan, is widely seen here as opening a window of opportunity for two different sets of talks, one between the Government and the militants, and the other between New Delhi and Islamabad. If Pakistan ends cross- border terrorism during Ramzan, India can no longer have any objections to dealing with the regime of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan did not reject outright the Indian initiative, but voiced scepticism about the perceived Indian motivation in trying to divide the militants and cut Pakistan out of the peace process.

In response to a specific question on Islamabad's support for cross-border terrorism, the Pakistan Foreign office spokesman on Monday made a reference to India's ``oppression'' in the Kashmir valley. The implicit suggestion was that if New Delhi was prepared to reduce its military presence in the valley and end alleged human rights violations, Islamabad might be able to reciprocate on cross-border terrorism.

Mr. Singh today asserted that there could be no bargain on the issue of cross border terrorism. The Minister declared that India would not let Pakistan use its support for violence as a ``pre- negotiating tactic''. Mr. Singh is insisting that Pakistan must end cross-border terrorism, without any conditions or linkages.

'Negative attitude' hampers Track-II diplomacy

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 24. There is growing concern among those engaged in Track-II diplomacy for improvement of relations between India and Pakistan over the `negative attitude' of their respective Governments.

The point is illustrated by the cases involving a Pakistan scholar who was invited to present a paper at a symposium on the next step in Kashmir and a group of academicians which intends travelling to Lahore on a five-day trip for interaction at various levels.

The Pakistan scholar, Prof. Khalid Mahmud, associated with the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), was invited for a symposium in New Delhi on November 25 and 26 being organised by a Mumbai- based NGO. He had to cancel his trip as the Indian Government cleared his visa only an hour before the departure of the flight.Prof. Mahmud, who specialises in Indian affairs, is very upset with the Indian Government. ``I was told initially that since the theme of the symposium was sensitive, the visa required clearance from Delhi. I waited and waited only to be told at 11.30 a.m. this morning that my visa had been approved while the flight to Lahore was to leave at 12.30 p.m. How is it possible for anyone to make it at an hour's notice'' he asked The Hindu.

Prof. Mahmud had visited India several times and is not an unknown face either in the academic circles or to the agencies who vet visa applications.

The fate of 35 or so academicians from India who are looking forward to their visit hangs in the balance. The Women's Initiative for Peace in South Asia and Pakistan and India People's Forum have invited them. An activist, who informed The Hindu about the venture, said that he was pursuing the matter of their visas with the Pakistan Interior Ministry. ``Contact me tomorrow morning. I would let you know the result''.

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