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India & World
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
The perception here is that while there is nothing unusual in Islamabad rushing to the U.N. cribbing about India, it acquires a new significance as both countries are engaged in a peace process since the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee's initiative in April. It has also not gone unnoticed that in the last few weeks Islamabad has upped the ante vis-a-vis the peace process. Not only is the theme of Kashmir as the `core' issue firmly back on the agenda, there have also been some very provocative statements by the Foreign Office. At his press briefing last week, the Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, accused India of operating 55 militant camps with the aim of destabilising Pakistan. It was found to be scandalous even by a section of the Pakistan press. The English daily, Daily Times, in its editorial termed the charge a `gimmick' and chided the spokesman for not being serious. One explanation for the Pakistani Permanent Representative to the U.N., Munir Akram's formal letter complaining against the Indian `attitude' could be that he is preparing the groundwork for the next month's General Assembly session. Mr. Vajpayee and the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, are scheduled to speak at the session though on different dates. Mr. Akram complained that "India's persistent refusal" to resume bilateral dialogue and agree to a serious, substantive and sustained engagement for peaceful resolution of all issues — notably Jammu and Kashmir — "should be a cause of concern for the international community". "So far, there is no talk about talks, no road map and no signpost for moving towards a genuine process for peace and security in South Asia," he said. In an obvious references to visits by parliamentary and other delegations at the track-II level, he said that unofficial exchanges "cannot be a substitute for official talks". He claimed that Pakistan had "persistently called on India to resume the composite dialogue on the basis of the previously agreed agenda, which includes all issues of mutual concern, including Jammu and Kashmir". Mr. Akram claimed that Pakistan's approach was guided by a sense of responsibility and a desire to lower tensions and prevent conflict. "A bilateral dialogue is not a favour, which either country would bestow on the other. India's demand that Pakistan make unilateral concessions to its position is designed to frustrate not facilitate a dialogue," he stated. "India's aversion to talks, is premised on seeking concessions from Pakistan unilaterally through coercive means. A delay in opening such a dialogue is bound to strengthen the positions of extremists and complicate the search for acceptable mutual solutions to outstanding issues. These trends may accentuate in view of the ascendancy of militant Hindu extremist sentiments within the Indian polity now being manifested in the pre-electoral play in India." Pointing out that a resolution of the Kashmir dispute was central to the promotion of normal and friendly relations between the two countries, Mr. Akram said it was the principal item on the agreed agenda for bilateral talks. "However, these small steps to gradually revert to the pre-military mobilization status (December 2001) should not create the incorrect impression that there has been forward movement in resolving the outstanding differences between India and Pakistan, especially over Jammu and Kashmir. Official talks between the two sides have not been resumed. The security environment in South Asia remains fragile and volatile. India has not withdrawn its forces from the Line of Control in Kashmir. Sporadic exchange of fire continues along the line. Indian leaders continue to make periodic threats against Pakistan. "In the context of the upcoming State elections and next year's national elections in India, Indian political parties and leaders have revived their belligerent posture towards Pakistan and may take other steps that could heighten tensions and revive the danger of another conflict," he said. He said recent congregations of the BJP have not only issued belligerent rhetoric against Pakistan; they have called for the construction of a Hindu temple on the site of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya and the destruction of over 3,000 other mosques across India. "An electoral campaign based on hate against India's Muslims and Pakistan does not augur well for peace and stability in the subcontinent."
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