'Progress only if Pak. checks cross-border terrorism'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 3. The Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. V. K. Nambiar, has said that meaningful progress can be expected at the coming New York summit between the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, only if Islamabad is willing to address New Delhi's concerns on cross-border terrorism.

In an interactive session with the members of the Center for Development and Democracy at Karachi on Sunday, Mr. Nambiar said he expected the meeting between the two leaders to be ``different and productive.''

The second summit meeting was likely to be based on a better ``instinctive assessment'' of issues that were discussed during the Agra summit, the High Commissioner, who was in Karachi in connection with the ongoing SAARC trade fair, said.

Pakistan should check cross-border terrorism for a meaningful progress in bilateral relations, he said, adding that though there was talk of maximum restraint along the LoC, it had been breached by infiltration from the Pakistani side of the border.

`Jehad' was not the solution to the Kashmir issue. New Delhi could have made mistakes in Kashmir but they were part of the democratic process.

Mr. Nambiar said reopening the entire question of territory between the two countries would only complicate matters. ``If it (Kashmir) is a core issue for you, it is the core of the Indian nationhood. Pakistan should realise that the issue cannot be resolved through `jehad' or such sentimental campaigns.''

The United Nations Resolutions on Kashmir were not relevant any more. Since their implementation was not practicable, a political solution would have to be found.

India could not be expected to ignore the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration, Mr. Nambiar said. The agreements were not put on the backburner even in Agra. Instead of getting bogged down on one issue, the two countries should normalise relations by going from the `easy to difficult' issues. In this regard, Mr. Nambiar referred to India's decision to announce confidence- building measures (CBMs) like easing of travel restrictions, opening of trade and augmenting people-to-people contacts. He also referred to the Indian request of re-opening a visa office at Karachi. The Pakistan Foreign Office had agreed to the proposal in principle.

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Section  : International
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