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Withdraw troops from frontline, Annan tells India
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
ISLAMABAD, JAN. 24. The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today urged India to withdraw its troops immediately from frontline positions to de-escalate tension in South Asia. He advocated a twin-track approach for India and Pakistan in the long-run to resolve all their differences, including those on Kashmir, through peaceful means.
Addressing a joint news conference with the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, here, on the first day of his two-day visit, Mr. Annan said the twin-track approach should consist of a sustained and determined action against ``armed extremist groups,'' and an equally sustained dialogue to resolve all differences.
``No doubt the immediate need is the military de-escalation. But end of the immediate crisis is not enough. The world does not want another conflict between the two countries in the next few weeks and months. I believe a twin-track approach is needed for a permanent peace. My good offices would always be there if help is needed.''
It was indeed a tightrope walk for Mr. Annan. Having taken the position during his visit in March last that the U.N. resolutions on Kashmir were not enforceable, he was careful in his formulation this time, given the latest tension between India and Pakistan.
Mr. Annan began his opening remarks at the news conference by saying the events of the last few months had totally changed the situation in the region and the international community was fully conscious of the dangers the tensions could cause in the subcontinent.
Praising the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's speech of January 12 _ in which he announced his intention of reining in the `jehadi' elements within Pakistan _ Mr. Annan described it as a ``step in the right direction.'' India and Pakistan had so much in common that they had everything to gain by resolving their differences, which included Kashmir, and much to lose by confronting each other.
Mr. Annan stuck to his position on the status of the U.N. resolutions on Kashmir and maintained that they ``cannot be self-fulfilled and implemented.'' When asked about the ``validity'' of the resolutions, he said they were very much there and ``when both parties sit across the table, there are elements in the resolutions that could help... These resolutions can only be enforced when both the parties agree and accept (them). There are several instances where the U.N. resolutions have proved to be useful when both the parties come together.'' When a Pakistani scribe said Islamabad had gained nothing despite being a frontline state twice (during the Afghan war from 1979 to 1989 and the current global war against terrorism), Mr. Annan merely said the Security Council required all member countries to take action against terrorism.
He shot down a suggestion that the present team of U.N. observers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir be converted into a peacekeeping force, saying ``for U.N. observers to be transformed into a peace-keeping force, you need another resolution in the Security Council. I do not see that happening now.''
Mr. Sattar said he had appraised Mr. Annan of Pakistan's earnest efforts to preserve peace, de-escalate tensions on the borders and resume a dialogue with India. ``While we have noted the prevalent perception of diplomatic and political amelioration in the state of tension, there is little change so far in the concentration of forces on the border. Inherent in this situation are dangers that need to be defused by the return of forces to their peacetime locations. Pakistan will promptly respond to any such move by India.''
Later, Mr. Annan met Gen. Musharraf and exchanged views on the situation in the region and the developments in Afghanistan. He will leave for Kabul tomorrow and proceed to Teheran.
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