India "not to act" under pressure
Indo-Pak talks begin today
From Amar Chandel
Tribune News Service

ISLAMABAD, Oct 15 — Rarely have Foreign-Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan begun in such a glare of international publicity. Representatives of almost all prestigious newspapers stationed in Asia have started descending on Islamabad for the three-day talks beginning tomorrow. The main reason for this unusual interest is that western powers are unanimous that the progress on the CTBT and other international agreements is predicated on the Indo-Pak talks which have resumed after a hiatus of more than a year.

Ironically, little movement forward is expected from this round, which is to focus on two specific subjects: peace and security, including confidence building measures, and Kashmir. As usual, Pakistan is determined to keep Kashmir as the "core" issue to the veritable exclusion of all other topics. In plain language, Islamabad wants to miss the good relationship wood for the sake of the Kashmir Chinar.

Even without being cynical, there is no reason to expect any breakthrough during this round. That the talks have begun at all is being seen as a step forward.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is ideally placed to make a break from the past and spring a spectacular surprise. He has vanquished the judiciary, the Army and even the President, having placed his handpicked men in the top positions. But so much anti-India hype has been generated among the public that any inch of concession is going to be measured as a yard.

Peace and security is to be discussed on Friday and Kashmir on Saturday.

It has not been a very auspicious beginning either. Pakistan has made much of the military exercise to be held by India next month and has even gone to the extent of calling it "petulent" and "errant". The Indian side has reacted equally angrily to the accusations. They have three valid points to make. One, Pakistan was duly informed of the exercise as early as September 30. Two, the manoeuvres are taking place more than 100 km away from the border. And three, these are to take place well after the talks. The Pakistani attempt to fudge the timing of the exercise has annoyed the Indian side.

The Indian viewpoint is that it is Islamabad which has thrown the spanner in the works. It could not have done worse than claiming that it is a representative of Kashmir and Kashmiri interests. Nor has the atmosphere been made any lighter by the statement of Pakistan that the Delhi round of talks will be held only after analysing the outcome of the Islamabad talks. Significantly, while India has declared the dates of the talks, Pakistan has yet to do so officially. The rest of the six topics like Sir Creek and Wullar Barrage are to be discussed during the Delhi round.

Still, the Indian side is exuding confidence that it will have results to show when the two foreign secretaries address a joint Press conference on Sunday. An official spokesman said that India had always desired peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations with Pakistan and for this purpose had urged Pakistan to engage in a broadbased and comprehensive dialogue which moves the relationship forward over a broad front.

The dialogue would, inter alia, provide for a discussion on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. All Indian proposals for the composite dialogue process had included discussions on Jammu and Kashmir. India had always desired that Jammu and Kashmir should be taken in a direct bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. The dialogue process, which would begin with the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Islamabad, had now become possible because India and Pakistan had agreed on the modalities of the dialogue on this basis.

The official spokesman further said that there was no question of India acting under international pressure and there was no place for any third- party involvement in the India-Pakistan ties. The international community had shared this view and had strongly expressed its desire that India and Pakistan should resolve all outstanding issues peacefully and bilaterally.

The dialogue process, which would begin with Foreign Secretary K. Raghunath’s visit to Islamabad, had now become possible because both countries had agreed on the modalities of the talks on this basis, the spokesman contended.

Mr Raghunath leads an eight-member Indian delegation for the talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shamshad Ahmad. The delegation includes joint secretaries in the External Affairs Ministry, Mr Vivek Katju and Mr Rakesh Sood, a Joint Secretary from the Defence Ministry, and senior MEA officials.

The two sides will tomorrow discuss peace and security, including confidence-building measures. Delhi is slated to put forth proposals on issues relating to nuclear and conventional weapons and missiles.

On October 17, the two delegations will dwell at length on the Jammu and Kashmir issue wherein Delhi is likely to convey its strong concern about cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan there.

On October 18, the two sides will have a wrap-up session before the Indian delegation returns home.