Thursday, Aug 22, 2002
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By Amit Baruah
Mr. Sinha said later that perhaps India and Pakistan could do ``something together'' if Islamabad conceded that infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) was not in its hands. If Pakistan ``came clean'' on the issue, then there were possibilities such as joint patrolling of the LoC that opened up. Mr. Haq told reporters separately that Pakistan was examining the situation following the Indian decision to lift the ban on overflights by India and would ``come up with a decision''. Islamabad, he said, was ``always ready'' for an exchange of High Commissioners as well. ``We have always been meeting,'' Mr. Sinha said in response to questions whether the handshake would result in a bilateral meeting with Mr. Haq. The External Affairs Minister said it was not a ``secret'' that he had exchanged pleasantries with the Pakistani Minister. ``Civility is a sign of culture and there is no reason to depart from it....'' For his part, Mr. Haq was hopeful that a bilateral dialogue with India could begin soon though he was not willing to accept any Indian pre-conditions. However, he did say no talks were expected in Kathmandu and pointed to Mr. Sinha's statement on the issue on Tuesday. ``...We believe in sovereign equality and that all dialogue, discussions should be held without pre-conditions. Secondly, I would like to reiterate that Pakistan has, at the highest level, at the level of President Musharraf, stated that there is no movement across the LoC...'' He said what the Pakistan President had told a Western wireservice about some persons still crossing the LoC was a statement of fact. ``We have always said there is no way to absolutely seal the border. Individuals, probably of divided families, even some rogue elements, some renegades might be crossing the LoC. The Pakistan Government's position is very clear — it is not sponsoring, encouraging or allowing any movement across the LoC.'' ``That pledge has been given by President Musharraf and that pledge has been kept. However, individual movements, as he stated in his interview to AFP, cannot be prevented because of the terrain itself.... and, if some people by some means escape or try to get over the LoC, Indian forces are also in a position to interdict them.'' To a question on the presence of Al-Qaeda elements in Pakistan and the internal impact on the country, he said Islamabad was a ``frontline member'' of the international coalition against terrorism. ``(This) has had some adverse impact on Pakistan as well because terrorist organisations always try to fight back and destabilise the countries which are fighting against terrorism.'' ``You know some of the incidents that have happened recently in Pakistan, but we are determined to eradicate all terrorists from Pakistan as has been pledged by the President of Pakistan.'' About the terrorist mastermind, Osama bin Laden's presence in Pakistan, Mr. Haq said nobody knew whether he was dead or alive. ``I would not like to speculate on his whereabouts.'' Asked about the list of 20 terrorists that India had given to Pakistan seeking extradition, Mr. Haq claimed this was a ``dormant'' issue. ``We have stated in the first place that we are not aware of the presence of many of the people who are there because the list starts in the early 1980s and I am sure that most of the people .... listed are not in Pakistan. Secondly, we do not have sufficient information. Thirdly, there is no extradition treaty between India and Pakistan. Fourthly, no evidence or indictment has been provided to Pakistan about those people who have been asked to be extradited.'' He admitted that there was a ``SAARC treaty'' (convention). ``It requires certain pre-requisites to be fulfilled before the extradition can take place ... there have been no indictments in Indian courts which have been given to us regarding the crimes they are supposed to have been committing....'' Mr. Haq, who was asked several questions by Indian reporters, left open the door for a dialogue while hinting that Pakistan could take a step in the direction of restoring transport links with India. Interestingly, he did not take the opportunity to take potshots at India, but instead addressed all questions in a businesslike manner.
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