Navtej Sarna: The Pakistan High Commissioner made a courtesy call on EAM today.
External Affairs Minister reiterated the importance Indiaattached to the present process of normalization of links with Pakistan, and the importance of moving ahead ina step-by-step manner, building on the successes achieved and the confidence generated. He also drewattention to the need for Pakistan to cooperate with India to deal with the problem of terrorism. Healso expressed his confidence that the Government of Pakistan would make necessary effort to prevent theseterrorists from derailing the present process.
EAM also conveyed to him that taking into account the popularresponse in India to the Noor Fatima case, the Government of India has decided to facilitate the visarequirement of Pakistani children coming to India for medical treatment. The Government of India hasalso decided, at this stage, to fully fund the travel, stay and medical treatment of 20 Pakistani children. Details would be worked out through our High Commission in Islamabad.
Do you have any comment on the Hindustan Times reportstoday on the violation of LAC by Chinese in Arunachal Pradesh?
Government of India is aware of the transgression of the Lineof Actual Control by a Chinese patrol on 26 June 2003 in the Asaphila area of the Upper Subansiri District ofArunachal Pradesh. This is an area where there are differences in the perception of the Line of Actual Controlbetween the two sides.
The agreement of 1996 between India and China on ConfidenceBuilding Measures in the Military Field along the LAC in the India-China Border Areas contains a specificprovision for the manner in which situations involving face-to-face contact between personnel/patrols of thetwo sides are to be handled. In the case in question, these provisions do not appear to have been adhered toby the Chinese side. This matter has already been taken up through diplomatic channels and a response from theChinese side is awaited.
From time to time, on account of differences in perception ofthe LAC, situations have arisen on the ground that could have been avoided if we had a common perception ofthe LAC. The process of clarification of the LAC is under way. Government regularly takes up violations of theLAC with the Chinese side through established mechanisms.
Was the issue of transport links, specifically air linksdiscussed during the meeting today?
I do not know if there was any specific discussion but I amaware that the present position remains that we are awaiting for confirmation of the dates of the technicallevel discussions on civil aviation.
Pakistan Tourism Minister has said that Train servicebetween India and Pakistan is going to resume soon?
I am aware that as far as links are concerned, we arefollowing as with the whole process, a step by step approach and the step that is awaited for is theconfirmation of the dates for holding the technical level discussions on the civil aviation.
