The Hindu : Japan for global monitors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 01, 2002

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Japan for global monitors

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 31 . Japan today advocated positioning of international monitors along with Indian and Pakistani observers to verify any reduction of infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC).

"The situation could develop into de-escalation if infiltration is stopped and that is verified by the international community and India,'' said the special Japanese envoy and Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Seiken Sugiura, who is in the subcontinent with alternatives to de-escalate tension on the Indo-Pak. border.

Maintaining that the international community was continually exchanging views on avoiding a Indo-Pak. military confrontation, Mr. Sugiura said Japan intended consulting the United States and Britain "who share similar concerns and will keep on working on Pakistan to prevent cross-border terrorism and persuade it to take concrete and visible action towards that end''.

Speaking to presspersons after rounding off his interactions with senior Indian policy makers, Mr. Sugiura said his Government concurred with Indian sentiments on the situation and appreciated the patience shown so far by New Delhi.

India, however, chose to put across its views explicitly by telling the envoy that its patience was running low after enduring 12 years of Pak.-sponsored terrorism and that its war against terrorism had already started.

Giving his impression of discussions with Indian leaders, including the National Security Adviser, Brijesh Mishra, the Japanese Minister said the Indian side had "strong determination'' and "there is a strong possibility of the situation escalating into a military confrontation''.

He also conveyed Japan's apprehension over the tension escalating into a multi-conflict situation including nuclear exchanges.

Ever since Pakistan conducted the missile tests, there was growing concern over the conflict developing into a nuclear exchange in which the whole subcontinent would suffer immense damage. At the same time, even a small-scale conflict would impact negatively on the global fight against terrorism.

"Such kind of use of force would only benefit terrorists,'' he said.

During his visit to Islamabad, Mr. Sugiura said, he had "told them the essence of what India is insisting''.

In other words, Pakistan was again asked to take substantial and discernible measures to curb cross-border infiltration. To a question, he maintained that the issue of imposing sanctions on the two countries was not aired.

`No-first-use policy'

In another development earlier in the day, top Army sources said India remained committed to the "no-first-use" of nuclear weapons though the "other side may have a different perception''.

Brushing aside Pakistan's threat to use nuclear weapons even in a conventional war, they said India's no-first-use policy would not constrain its conventional forces in any manner.

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