The Hindu : Pak. downplays PM's statement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 05, 2003

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Pak. downplays PM's statement

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD JUNE 4. Pakistan today did not respond to the statement made by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, that if talks were to resume with Pakistan on Kashmir, they should begin first on Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Under normal circumstances, the Pakistan Foreign Office would not have allowed such a strong statement go uncontested. Obviously, at least for the time being, Islamabad has decided not to match word for word and deed for deed from Delhi.

The reason is obvious — Pakistan does not want to say or do anything on Mr. Vajpayee's peace initiative. This is evident from the conciliatory statements made by the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri.

Even the usually sharp-tongued Pakistan Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, particularly when it came to matters related to India was not ready to join issue with Mr. Vajpayee on the latest statement.

When contacted, Mr. Ahmed was at pains to emphasise that he was not aware of the text and context of Mr. Vajpayee's observations.

"I would rather be guided by the series of statements of Mr. Vajpayee since he extended the hand of friendship to Pakistan rather than pick and choose," he said. The Minister said that leaders should realise the "importance and sensitive" nature of the issue. "I don't think there is any need to react. You analyse the statement of the respected Prime Minister Vajpayee for the last one-month. So you will be in a better position to realise what he wants to say.

``It (Kashmir) is a very touchy subject... The leaders should realise the importance and sensitive nature of the subject. We should not give any harsh statement before it (dialogue) starts," he said.

"As far as Pakistan is concerned, we are waiting for his (Vajpayee's) response and the timing for the dialogue and we believe and we want that we should start with a good atmosphere and a positive approach...."

Asked at what stage should the Kashmir issue come up in the talks, the Pakistani Minister said that it was a "million dollar" question.

"The most intelligent and intellectual diplomat cannot reply in one sentence on how we are going to manage..." Mr. Rashid said he believed that when the dialogue started, there would be a solution.

Referring to the recent missile tests by India, Mr. Rashid said, "you know we are very close neighbours and if you see the last testing, there was no provocation from our side. We want the dialogue to start on a positive and good atmosphere.''

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