'Kashmir issue cannot be resolved at gunpoint'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 20. The Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. Vijay K. Nambiar, has said the Kashmir issue could neither be resolved at gunpoint nor India could be forced to resolve the issue.

Addressing a gathering at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Nambiar said India could not be expected to present Kashmir to Pakistan on a platter. The issue could be resolved only through constant talks, keeping in view all ground realities.

Mr. Nambiar, who served as India's Ambassador to China prior to his current assignment, said the relations between India and China over the years had improved despite differences over a number of issues.

India and Pakistan would have to take steps to benefit from the relaxations to improve bilateral trade. The visa services of the Indian High Commission were being improved and the proposal to start sending visas through courier service was also being considered.

He said though India wanted to reopen the consulate in Karachi, it was not possible unless Pakistan agreed to it. However, the proposal to start a camp office was under consideration.

Mr. Nambiar, currently on a tour to Karachi, told another gathering of businesspersons on Sunday, that the Indian Government had made a formal request to the Pakistan Foreign Office to allow it to operate a visa camp office in Karachi.

The Indian Consulate in Karachi was closed down in 1995, after a row between India and Pakistan over the alleged role played by members of the Indian Consulate in `instigating' trouble in Karachi city. The decision had led to the closure of the Mumbai Consulate of the Pakistan Government.

There have been several representations from the people of Karachi for the re-opening of the Consulate as nearly 90 per cent of the applicants for Indian visas were from Sindh.

The Governments of Pakistan and India seemed to agree in principle on the need to re-open the Consulate offices but insistence on the part of Pakistan that it be allowed to operate from the Jinnah House stalled progress on the issue.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Ceasefire received well in U.S.
Next     : Israel supplies radar to India