The Hindu : Cosmetic steps won't help: Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 25, 2002

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Cosmetic steps won't help: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD June 24. Pakistan today said there could be no reduction of tension on the western borders unless India was willing to urgently withdraw its forces and agree to sit across the table for a negotiated settlement of differences, including Jammu and Kashmir.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, told a news conference here that a "cosmetic measure here and there" would not help in the normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan.

"We believe the situation continues to be tense and dangerous. At the same time, let me assure that we are prepared to respond to every meaningful step by India for de-escalation.''

He was responding to a question on reports in a section of the press about further measures contemplated by New Delhi to de-escalate the surcharged atmosphere since the mobilisation of troops in December last.

Asked about the statement made by the U.S. Embassy spokesman in New Delhi that the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, did give a categorical assurance to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, to permanently end infiltration into the Indian borders, the spokesman said that Gen. Musharraf had on several occasions declared the determination of his country not to allow the Pakistan soil to be used against anyone.

There is little doubt that the Musharraf establishment is embarrassed over the statement put out by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi contradicting the impression given by Gen. Musharraf in his interview to Newsweek. Some officials believe that Gen. Musharraf was not diplomatic in his answer to the blunt question posed by the magazine staffer. Senior functionaries in the Musharraf Government believe that New Delhi had not done enough after categorical assurances from the highest quarters that Islamabad would do every thing under its command to prevent infiltration of militants across the LoC.

The belligerent statements of Gen. Musharraf in his interviews to the BBC network two days ago and the U.S. weekly are seen as a response to the interview given by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to an Indian daily that New Delhi has managed to achieve its objectives vis-a-vis Pakistan without waging a war. The posturing of Indian leaders in the last few days has added to the woes of Gen. Musharraf and only helped strengthen the campaign of the right-wingers in Pakistan that Islamabad has done a U-turn on Kashmir.

The perception that India has not responded adequately to the commitments made by the military Government and the charges made by the religious parties that the Musharraf Government is buckling under American pressure are the two factors responsible for the lukewarm response of Islamabad to the confidence-building measures announced by New Delhi over a fortnight ago.

Asked about the Pakistani response to the Indian decision to allow over-flight facilities to Pakistani aircraft, Mr. Khan said, "We are examining it''. To another question, he said the most urgent step was for India to withdraw its forces and pave the way for a meaningful dialogue for resolution of all differences.

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