India-Pakistan relations: Tread carefully lest you are taken by surprise, Parliament committee cautions government

New Delhi
18 December 2005

The standing committee on external affairs has
said that the government should prepare the roadmap for improving its
relations with Pakistan with the greatest care and it should not allow itself
to be taken by surprise at any stage.

In its eighth report presented to Parliament, the committee observed, "The
compulsions generated by the concerns of the international community
over the perpetual tension prevailing between two nuclear powers should
not force the government into hastening the pace in an unrealistic
manner."

The standing committee on external affairs comprises 20 Lok Sabha
members and 10 Rajya Sabha members besides the chairman, Dr
Laxminarayan Pandey. Dr Pandey is a member of the BJP. He represents
Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) in the Lok Sabha.

The committee felt that every care should be taken to protect the vital
interests of the nation. "The fact that the terrorist training camps inside
Pakistan's territory are still operating, though infiltration into Jammu and
Kashmir has come down considerably, points to the grave danger
inherent in the situation," read its report.

On Sino-Indian relations, the committee observed that it would like to be
apprised of the steps being taken to address the boundary disputes.
"Permanent settlement of the major disputes between India and China in a
spirit of mutual accommodation will bring about a qualitative change in
the geo-political situation in the South Asian region which will help to
accelerate India's economic growth," it felt.

"The committee are of the firm view that India needs to grow into an
economic superpower and considerably strengthen its military prowess in
order to be able to play [a big role in the shaping of the future world]
effectively," the report observed.

It suggested the Ministry of External Affairs should not leave the matter of
making Hindi an official language of the United Nations "on its fate." It
also reiterated that the Ministry should come up with a comprehensive
plan of action to either acquire suitable properties or construct new
premises for passport offices on land allotted by state governments.

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