The Hindu : 'Future ties will depend on Pak.'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

National

National

'Future ties will depend on Pak.'

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI FEB. 10. The expelled Indian Charge d'affaires, Sudhir Vyas, and his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, crossed the Wagah border today in line with the 48 hours given by Islamabad and New Delhi.

Mr. Jilani left New Delhi early today by road while his family members would follow suit within the week's time permitted by the Government of India.

Along with Mr. Vyas, four other Indian officials, including the First Secretary, Rahul Rasgotra, crossed the Wagah border.

Soon after, Mr. Vyas was quoted as telling presspersons: "Economic ties have considerably reduced between the two countries. Visa exchanges do take place but their level has dropped. But a political presence, having our flag there (in Pakistan), is very important".

Mr. Vyas said that events in the last three years had affected relations between India and Pakistan.

The High Commissions in both the countries were reduced to half their strength.

India, he said, was looking for some movement on the ground like reduction in infiltration.

Bilateral relations would depend on Islamabad's approach towards New Delhi.

If there is political will and a genuine desire going beyond statements to show some positive movement on the ground on the part of Pakistan, India would respond positively.

Future bilateral relations would also depend on Pakistan.

"We tried to maintain normal people-to-people relations, but Pakistan did not respond positively,'' he was quoted as saying.

Islamabad, Mr. Vyas said, had adopted a single-point agenda towards New Delhi — Kashmir. On who was responsible for the deterioration in the relations between the two countries, he said: "The Kargil operation by Pakistan can make anyone assess as to who is at fault".

Claiming that the Pakistan Government was "highly influenced" by fundamentalists, Mr. Vyas said Islamabad must end cross-border terrorism and anti-India propaganda if normality in relations was to be restored.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National