The Hindu : Armitage will be apprised of Pak.'s prevarication

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 22, 2002

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Armitage will be apprised of Pak.'s prevarication

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG 21. In the light of the recent spurt in infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, India is expected to tell the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, when he arrives here on Friday that a resumption of dialogue with Pakistan is difficult since the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, is yet to take firm and visible steps to end cross-border terrorism.

India is particularly perturbed over Pakistan's efforts to create a ``firewall'' between the action being taken by its security forces against the Al-Qaeda activists and the inaction against jehadi elements operating in Jammu and Kashmir. This perception emerges from Gen. Musharraf's recent interview where he said that the border with Jammu and Kashmir was porous and that some terrorists might be infiltrating without the knowledge of his security forces patrolling the area. Although Pakistan's border with Afghanistan is more porous, its security forces have gone after the Al-Qaeda activists on receiving specific information about their presence from U.S. intelligence agencies. India feels that a similar commitment is missing in the case of Pakistan-based terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

New Delhi feels it will be able to make the distinction between wilful negligence and the inability to apprehend terrorists due to the terrain if there is a modicum of cooperation between the security forces of both countries. As a result, the threshold of tolerance of slippages would also go up.

Mr. Armitage arrives here as part of the American process of acting as a facilitator in resolving the Indo-Pakistan crisis and will interact with the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, and the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, besides other senior officials, including the Foreign Secretary, Kanwal Sibal.

Apart from the security situation in the region, a further improvement in bilateral ties will form an equally important component of Mr. Armitage's day-long visit. The bilateral element has been a crucial part of these interactions as New Delhi had conveyed that frequent meetings would be of reduced value if the bilateral agenda is not simultaneously furthered.

While there has been considerable progress in areas such as defence cooperation and military-to-military relations, there are some sectors where little headway has been made. The talks will touch on both these aspects. The two sides also plan to explore the modalities on engaging on a new strategic framework which will have a wider agenda, including ensuring peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Although some disquiet has been expressed over the impasse with Pakistan despite a flurry of visits by senior American policy-makers to the sub-continent, New Delhi feels that the almost continuous dialogue with the U.S. interlocutors has led to a considerable shift in their position on the Kashmir dispute. Washington has recognised the specific responsibility of the Pakistan Government in cultivating terrorists which is a revision of its earlier stand of designating them as freedom fighters.

In addition, there has been acknowledgement of the primacy of the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir with the U.S. agreeing that disruption-free polls would be part of the answer to solving the dispute. America has also encouraged the participation in polls by those who play by the rules which is completely contrary to what Pakistan would desire.

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