M A I N   N E W S

India blasts UN official over Kashmir

New Delhi, October 30
India today hit out at a top UN official who called Jammu and Kashmir a “tormented country”, and hinted that New Delhi may demand his immediate recall.

Officials in the External Affairs Ministry here dismissed the surprise remarks made yesterday by Austrian Maj-Gen Hermann Loidolt, who heads a UN body that oversees the tense and disputed Kashmir border, as uncalled for.

“India has never indulged in political games or diversionary measures,” an official told IANS.

Major-General Loidolt heads the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

The UNMOGIP was deployed on both sides of divided Kashmir in January 1949 following the first of the wars between the two countries over the Himalayan state in order to supervise the ceasefire.

The UNMOGIP maintains a low-key presence in Kashmir. But on Monday, in a move that took New Delhi by surprise, Major-General Loidolt told journalists in Srinagar that Kashmir was a “tormented country”.

“All of us are aware of the situation in Kashmir and the games both India and Pakistan are playing,” he said.

“Whatever the reason for playing political games, may it be a diversionary manoeuvre on the Pakistani side to make India the real enemy instead of the USA or may it be the dawning of the next elections in India, it will be an issue for the USA to resolve.

“Without the UN’s presence, developments on the situation in Kashmir could be unpredictable.”

The Indian official, who did not wish to be identified, accused the general of “political games” in Jammu and Kashmir and said India may demand his recall.

“It is certainly objectionable. We are checking into it,” the official said.

Indian foreign policy experts were equally livid.

“If what is reported is true, then India should petition the UN Secretariat for his immediate recall,” said Mr G. Parthasarathy, a former High Commissioner to Pakistan.

Indian officials asserted that the UNMOGIP’s functions were to observe and report, investigate complaints of ceasefire violations and submit its finding to both India and Pakistan as well as the UN Secretary-General and not to sit in “political judgement.”

Headquartered in Rawalpindi during November-April and in Srinagar during May-October, the UNMOGIP consists of 45 military observers, backed by 24 international civilian personnel and 42 local staff. IANS

Pak will not beg for meeting: Pervez

Islamabad, October 30
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today said he was not deterred by India’s refusal to hold a summit at the United Nations next month and said he would not beg for the talks.

"I am not disappointed,’’ he said in an interview with Reuters Television. "I am willing, I have always been willing and I have been saying that I would like to meet the Prime Minister.

"But I am not prepared to beg him to meet me. If he doesn’t want to meet me, I am the last person willing to meet him,’’ he said.

Pakistan had said earlier today that it would like to resolve all outstanding issues with India, including Kashmir, through peaceful negotiations either bilaterally or through a third party mediation.

Pakistan foreign office spokesman, while replying to a question on the tense situation along the LoC and working boundary, said the country was not responsible for the increase in tension. It was India which was responsible for it, he alleged.

On reports that Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s refusal to meet Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in New York, the spokesman said, “Our position is very well known. We have already expressed our desire to resolve all disputes with India.’’ Reuters, UNI