New Delhi
30 September 2005
Ahead of the foreign minister-level talks in
Islamabad next week, India has indicated a readiness on her part to
explore the possibility of redeployment of troops from Siachen "provided
[both sides] reach an understanding on actual ground position".
Official sources on Friday said India and Pakistan need to sit down and
talk where the Line of Control should go "north to the glacier". They said
that any decision to redeploy troops from Siachen would be based on "our
assessment" and that it would depend on how much the violence has
come down.
The sources added that the "infrastructure of terrorism has not changed"
and the "confusing signals" emanating from Pakistan did not help
matters. They said military CBMs would "lessen the mistrust" but this
proposal has met with scepticism from Pakistan but, they asserted, "we
will stay the course".
Meanwhile, armed with a slew of proposals for reinvigorating the peace
process, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh will leave on a four-day
visit to Pakistan on Sunday during which the India-Pakistan Joint
Commission will meet for the first time after a gap of 16 years.
A delegation drawn from the ministries of tourism, culture, commerce,
information and broadcasting and telecommunication will accompany Mr
Natwar Singh to Islamabad where he will hold talks with his Pakistani
counterpart Mr Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri. He will travel to Karachi before
returning on October 5.
The talks would focus on the entire gamut of bilateral ties covering a
comprehensive review of the composite dialogue process. Both sides
would also sign agreements on prenotification of missile tests and
establishment of communication links between the Coast Guard and the
Pakistan Maritime Security Agency.
India will make a presentation on the potential for trade and commerce in
view of the emergence of a dynamic economic community in South Asia.
Discussions will also dwell on the benefits that will accrue to both
countries if Pakistan allows transit facilities for goods and commodities.
Proposals by India ...
* Allow consular services within three months
* Exchange of list of prisoners twice a year, on January 1 and July 1
* Further liberalisation of visa
* Allow more number of pilgrims and increase number of shrines they can
visit
* Notify detention immediately
* Tour packages for Pakistan with list of approved tour operators
* Conclusion of extradition and mutual legal assistance treaties
* Fibre-optic telecommunication link
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