ID :
190946
Fri, 06/24/2011 - 21:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/190946
The shortlink copeid
J-K cannot be resolved 'under shadow of gun': India to Pak
From Priyanka Tikoo and Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jun 24 (PTI) India on Friday told Pakistan
that the complex issue of Kashmir cannot be resolved under the
"shadow of gun and extremist violence" as the two sides agreed
on various confidence building measures (CBMs) during their
two-day "substantive and constructive" talks.
"There is no place for the ideology of military
conflict," Islamabad was told as Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao wound up her 2-day talks with her Pakistani counterpart
Salman Bashir here.
India raised its concerns over the slow pace of trial of
Mumbai terror attack accused and "worrisome aspects" of
terror links of ISI, as revealed in the trial of Pakistani-
Canadian terrorist Tahawwur Rana in Chicago.
With "realistic expectations", the two sides ended the
talks on a positive note, paving the way for discussions
between Foreign Ministers of the two countries in New Delhi
next month. They also discussed conventional and nuclear
CBMs.
Addressing a joint press conference with Bashir, Rao
said, "We have been fully conscious of the complexities of our
relationship and the consequent need to take incremental steps
to promote mutual confidence and understanding."
"The shadow of the gun and the violence it has unleashed
has caused untold sufferings on our people in these years
past. This needs to end, Rao said, adding "the ideology of
military conflict should have no place in the paradigm of our
relationship of the 21st century."
Asked about the issue of resolution of the Kashmir issue,
she said, "We have to build peace and reconciliation step by
step... We must do away with shadow of the gun and extremist
violence and then only in atmosphere free of terror and
violence that we can discuss resolution of such a complex
issue."
Both Rao and Bashir noted that there were stated
positions on Kashmir and by discussing it no-one has changed
that. The effort was to move forward to put in more CBMs in
cross LoC trade and travel, they said.
Officials observed that there was an "excellent
chemistry" between the two sides during their series of
meetings dealing with three segments----Peace and Security,
including CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir and Promotion of Friendly
Exchanges.
"In our discussions, we were guided by the vision of our
two Prime Ministers to build trust and confidence by
discussing various issues in an open and constructive spirit
and in a forward looking manner," Rao said.
Replying to a question to whether India raised the issue
of 26/11 probe and trial in Pakistan, she said "obviously the
issue is of critical importance (to India)."
She said the issue has been discussed at Home Secretary
level meetings and she followed it up.
Bashir also said Pakistan understands concerns in India
on Mumbai attack issue but added that terrorism in generic
sense poses threat to both the countries. "It needed to be
eliminated in a collaborative approach," he said.
However, officials maintained that the aim was to raise
India's concerns about terror and to "extract further
confessions" from the Pakistani side.
The Joint Statement also said the Foreign Secretaries
exchanged views on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed
to continue discussions in a "purposeful and forward looking
manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by
narrowing divergences and building convergences".
Referring to cross-LoC CBMs, Bashir said that these were
aimed at creating "more comfort and relief" to Jammu and
Kashmir.
"The talks we have held this time were not an event in
isolation, but part of a dialogue process, which aims at
building greater trust between us", Rao said.
Various nuclear and conventional CBMs were also discussed
during the talks with both sides agreeing to convene separate
expert-level meetings on these subjects to strengthen the
existing arrangements and consider additional measures later
this year which will report back to the Foreign Secretaries
about the progress on the issue.
Both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the Working
Group on Cross-LoC CBMs to recommend measures for
strengthening and streamlining the existing trade and travel
arrangements across the LoC and propose modalities for
introducing additional Cross-LoC CBMs. The group will meet
next month.
Recognising that terrorism poses a continuing threat to
peace and security, they reiterated the firm and undiluted
commitment of the two countries to fight and eliminate this
scourge in all its forms and manifestations.
"They agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on
counter-terrorism," the joint statement said.
Rao also said the "unleashing of violence" should end
as "military conflict" has no space in 21st century. It should
be replaced by a "vocabulary of peace" for resolution of
issues in an atmosphere "free from terror and violence".
Bashir said the two sides made their "well-known"
positions on the Kashmir issue, nonetheless they agreed to
continue discussions to find a common ground. It did not mean
that anybody has changed the position, he said.
"We have tried to move forward," he added.
To a question on the Samjhauta blast case, Rao said India
has promised to "share the outcome" once the investigations
are over.
The joint statement said the two countries also discussed
measures for promoting cooperation in various fields
including, facilitating visits to religious shrines, media
exchanges, holding of sports tournaments and cessation of
hostile propaganda against each other.
Rao said the two sides discussed all aspects of
cross-LoC CBMs including the number of trading days and
points, banking facilities and more transport linkages.
The two countries also agreed to the need for promoting
friendly exchanges between the two countries. They noted with
satisfaction the progress made towards finalisation of the
Visa Agreement which will help liberalise the visa regime and
facilitate people-to-people, business-to-business and sports
contacts.
The joint statement said the Foreign Secretaries will
meet again in New Delhi on a date to be decided through
diplomatic channels to prepare for the meeting of the Foreign
Ministers.
Both sides agreed to the need for promoting friendly
exchanges between the two countries.
"They noted with satisfaction the progress made
towards finalisation of the Visa Agreement which will help
liberalise the visa regime and facilitate people-to-people,
business-to-business and sports contacts," it said.
The Foreign Secretaries agreed that people of the two
countries are at the heart of the relationship and that
humanitarian issues should be accorded priority and treated
with sensitivity.
Islamabad, Jun 24 (PTI) India on Friday told Pakistan
that the complex issue of Kashmir cannot be resolved under the
"shadow of gun and extremist violence" as the two sides agreed
on various confidence building measures (CBMs) during their
two-day "substantive and constructive" talks.
"There is no place for the ideology of military
conflict," Islamabad was told as Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao wound up her 2-day talks with her Pakistani counterpart
Salman Bashir here.
India raised its concerns over the slow pace of trial of
Mumbai terror attack accused and "worrisome aspects" of
terror links of ISI, as revealed in the trial of Pakistani-
Canadian terrorist Tahawwur Rana in Chicago.
With "realistic expectations", the two sides ended the
talks on a positive note, paving the way for discussions
between Foreign Ministers of the two countries in New Delhi
next month. They also discussed conventional and nuclear
CBMs.
Addressing a joint press conference with Bashir, Rao
said, "We have been fully conscious of the complexities of our
relationship and the consequent need to take incremental steps
to promote mutual confidence and understanding."
"The shadow of the gun and the violence it has unleashed
has caused untold sufferings on our people in these years
past. This needs to end, Rao said, adding "the ideology of
military conflict should have no place in the paradigm of our
relationship of the 21st century."
Asked about the issue of resolution of the Kashmir issue,
she said, "We have to build peace and reconciliation step by
step... We must do away with shadow of the gun and extremist
violence and then only in atmosphere free of terror and
violence that we can discuss resolution of such a complex
issue."
Both Rao and Bashir noted that there were stated
positions on Kashmir and by discussing it no-one has changed
that. The effort was to move forward to put in more CBMs in
cross LoC trade and travel, they said.
Officials observed that there was an "excellent
chemistry" between the two sides during their series of
meetings dealing with three segments----Peace and Security,
including CBMs, Jammu and Kashmir and Promotion of Friendly
Exchanges.
"In our discussions, we were guided by the vision of our
two Prime Ministers to build trust and confidence by
discussing various issues in an open and constructive spirit
and in a forward looking manner," Rao said.
Replying to a question to whether India raised the issue
of 26/11 probe and trial in Pakistan, she said "obviously the
issue is of critical importance (to India)."
She said the issue has been discussed at Home Secretary
level meetings and she followed it up.
Bashir also said Pakistan understands concerns in India
on Mumbai attack issue but added that terrorism in generic
sense poses threat to both the countries. "It needed to be
eliminated in a collaborative approach," he said.
However, officials maintained that the aim was to raise
India's concerns about terror and to "extract further
confessions" from the Pakistani side.
The Joint Statement also said the Foreign Secretaries
exchanged views on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and agreed
to continue discussions in a "purposeful and forward looking
manner with the view to finding a peaceful solution by
narrowing divergences and building convergences".
Referring to cross-LoC CBMs, Bashir said that these were
aimed at creating "more comfort and relief" to Jammu and
Kashmir.
"The talks we have held this time were not an event in
isolation, but part of a dialogue process, which aims at
building greater trust between us", Rao said.
Various nuclear and conventional CBMs were also discussed
during the talks with both sides agreeing to convene separate
expert-level meetings on these subjects to strengthen the
existing arrangements and consider additional measures later
this year which will report back to the Foreign Secretaries
about the progress on the issue.
Both sides agreed to convene a meeting of the Working
Group on Cross-LoC CBMs to recommend measures for
strengthening and streamlining the existing trade and travel
arrangements across the LoC and propose modalities for
introducing additional Cross-LoC CBMs. The group will meet
next month.
Recognising that terrorism poses a continuing threat to
peace and security, they reiterated the firm and undiluted
commitment of the two countries to fight and eliminate this
scourge in all its forms and manifestations.
"They agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation on
counter-terrorism," the joint statement said.
Rao also said the "unleashing of violence" should end
as "military conflict" has no space in 21st century. It should
be replaced by a "vocabulary of peace" for resolution of
issues in an atmosphere "free from terror and violence".
Bashir said the two sides made their "well-known"
positions on the Kashmir issue, nonetheless they agreed to
continue discussions to find a common ground. It did not mean
that anybody has changed the position, he said.
"We have tried to move forward," he added.
To a question on the Samjhauta blast case, Rao said India
has promised to "share the outcome" once the investigations
are over.
The joint statement said the two countries also discussed
measures for promoting cooperation in various fields
including, facilitating visits to religious shrines, media
exchanges, holding of sports tournaments and cessation of
hostile propaganda against each other.
Rao said the two sides discussed all aspects of
cross-LoC CBMs including the number of trading days and
points, banking facilities and more transport linkages.
The two countries also agreed to the need for promoting
friendly exchanges between the two countries. They noted with
satisfaction the progress made towards finalisation of the
Visa Agreement which will help liberalise the visa regime and
facilitate people-to-people, business-to-business and sports
contacts.
The joint statement said the Foreign Secretaries will
meet again in New Delhi on a date to be decided through
diplomatic channels to prepare for the meeting of the Foreign
Ministers.
Both sides agreed to the need for promoting friendly
exchanges between the two countries.
"They noted with satisfaction the progress made
towards finalisation of the Visa Agreement which will help
liberalise the visa regime and facilitate people-to-people,
business-to-business and sports contacts," it said.
The Foreign Secretaries agreed that people of the two
countries are at the heart of the relationship and that
humanitarian issues should be accorded priority and treated
with sensitivity.
