ISLAMABAD, Dec 26: The Foreign Office announced on Monday that foreign secretary-level talks between Pakistan and India, marking the beginning of the third round of the composite dialogue process, would be held in New Delhi on January 17-18.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam at a weekly briefing here said: “These talks will be on Jammu and Kashmir and peace and security CBMs.”
She said that talks between the railways authorities of the two countries would be held in New Delhi on January 5-6. The authorities would discuss the launch of the Khokarapar-Monabao train service, she said.
Ms Aslam expressed the hope that there would be more progress in the next round of the composite dialogue and that further progress would be made on the Siachen issue.
Noting that while expectations may be that Pakistan and India would be able to “move very quickly”, Ms Aslam said that the two countries were dealing with some complex issues. “When we approach the dialogue process we have to keep a positive mindset as well,” she observed.
She said on the whole there had been some progress on Kashmir-related issues and other CBMs in the second round, adding: “We do maintain the hope that there will be further progress.”
PROPOSALS: Commenting on discussions on President Musharraf’s proposals of demilitarization and self-governance in Kashmir, she said: “We have already said discussions have been held on the ideas of self-governance and demilitarization in Kashmir.” She did not elaborate.
She maintained that a number of ideas were being discussed “as interim relief measures” for Kashmiris and these (proposals) could be part of those measures.
When asked if formal confirmation of bilateral discussions on these proposals by the Indian national security advisor last week signified progress in the back-channel dialogue, the spokesperson said the fact that a discourse had been initiated on these proposals and there were a number of positive statements from Kashmiri leaders was a “good” sign.
Commenting on the international community’s response, Ms Aslam said: “The international community is receptive to any proposal that would lead to the resolution of the long-standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir and in the interim in reduction of tension and risks. In that context, these proposal would be welcome, specially if they are supported by the people of Kashmir.”
She reiterated that the proposals did not alter Pakistan’s principled position on the Kashmir issue. “Pakistan’s legal case on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute rests on the UN Security Council resolutions,” she asserted. “When the government of Pakistan talks about a solution acceptable to all the stakeholders, particularly to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, a solution that represents their aspirations, in spirit it is the same thing as the UNSC resolutions,” she explained.
INFILTRATION: Regarding the Indian national security advisor’s claim that there had been an increase in infiltration across the LoC, she said: “Relief workers from all over the world are operating in Azad Kashmir, close to the LoC as well. If infiltration was taking place this is not something we could have hidden.” In this context she pointed to a number of contradictory messages emanating from Delhi and quoted the Indian Army chief General J.J. Singh as saying on Dec 11: “I’m not ready to accept that infiltration has gone up.” She also drew attention to another statement by the Indian minister of State for Home in the Indian Parliament on Dec 22 in which he had said infiltration from across the Line of Control is down.
Ms Aslam asserted that the “so-called cross-border terrorism” was not a standard talking point between Pakistan and the US, adding: “In fact, we have a lot more to talk about.” She said the US vice-president during his visit last week did not raise the issue.
On India’s growing military power, the spokesperson referred to the poor development indicators of South Asia and said that should be a cause of concern.
“Our priority is that we should be able to have durable peace in this region so that we can concentrate on economic development that would in turn uplift the condition of our people,” she said, hoping that India, too, would look at the situation in a similar light.
Emphasizing that in the arms race, the peoples of the region were victims, she said: “Any region that is marked by tensions and conflict, you don’t get foreign investment or economic development there. So we should have peace in this region so we can concentrate on economic development.”
UAE: At the outset the foreign office spokesperson announced the visit of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi to Pakistan on Dec 27. She said this would be his first official visit to Islamabad since assuming office after the death of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on Nov 2 2004.
“The visit of His Highness the President of the UAE will provide a useful opportunity for an in-depth review of bilateral, regional and international issues,” she said.
SAUDI KING: She said dates of Saudi King Abdullah’s visit to the region have not been firmed up yet. However, she said Pakistan was looking forward to his visit.
In almost a policy statement, she observed: “Relations with Saudi Arabia is one of the fundamentals of Pakistan’s foreign policy. It’s a very unique and very special relationship.” Hoping that the Saudi King’s visit would further strengthen this relationship, she remarked: “Saudi Arabia has always stood by Pakistan.”
GAZA TRIP: Responding to a question about the visit of Pakistani delegation to Gaza, the spokesperson said: “The preparations are in hand.” But she did not indicate when the delegation would be going. She told a questioner that details about the size and composition of the delegation were being finalized.
US: Ms Aslam said the US Secretary of Defence was here last week on a brief visit and he did not have any official engagements. “He was here only to meet the American people working in the earthquake-hit areas. He interacted with them and then left,” she said.
BUSH’S TRIP: The Foreign Office spokesmperson said there were “no certain dates” yet on the expected visit of former US President George Bush, who had been nominated as UN secretary-general’s special envoy to Pakistan on earthquake related issues.
Referring to the stay of the US personnel working in earthquake-hit zones she said: “We will take a decision depending on our requirements.”
The foreign office spokesperson responded in the negative when asked if there was any involvement of an Iranian group in the current insurgency in Balochistan as claimed by a former ISI official.
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