'Amused At Pakistan's Profession Of Concern'

Navtej Sarna: We have a statement on Pakistan’s proposals yesterday. 

1. We welcome the fact that Pakistan has responded positively to at least some of the proposals announced by ourExternal Affairs Minister on October 22. We are disappointed that they have attached impractical, extraneousor delaying conditions to the others. 

2. Based on the positive responses, there would be immediate implementation of the proposals to allow seniorcitizens to cross at Wagah on foot. We would also initiate further steps for working out modalities for linksbetween our Coast Guards and Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency. We also look forward to bilateral sportingencounters. We will work on the modalities of Pakistan’s proposal for release of apprehended fishermenwithin a month, although we would have preferred to work out an arrangement for their non-arrest. 

3. We hope that Pakistan will come to the talks on civil aviation on December 1-2, with an open mind and withthe intention of finalising arrangements for their successful resumption. 

4. We would look forward to holding of technical level talks for resumption of Samjhauta Express, in the middleof December, as proposed by Pakistan, after the successful conclusion of the talks in early December forresumption of civil aviation. 

5. We welcome Pakistan’s offer of medical treatment to 40 Indian children. Such offers and theirimplementation will no doubt enhance interaction and contribute, in some measure, to increasing understandingand empathy. 

6. We are disappointed that Pakistan has, in effect, not agreed to our proposals for running extra buses on theDelhi-Lahore route, and establishing links between Mumbai and Karachi, Khokrapar and Munabao, and Srinagar andMuzaffarabad. Such links would have facilitated widening of people to people contacts and cooperation. Theycould have easily been put into effect through technical level discussions. Holding up such simple steps, andmaking them part of the Composite Dialogue process, in effect means delaying them. Since these measures areaimed at expanding interaction, widening areas of cooperation and building up trust, we will continue to hopethat Pakistan will agree to their implementation. Our offer for a bus link between Srinagar and Muzaffarabadwas motivated by humanitarian considerations. It is unfortunate that Pakistan has instead opted to politiciseand disrupt this by attaching conditions that they knew would not be acceptable. In fact, even now people fromthese regions travel without the requirement of the kind of documents that Pakistan spoke about. 

7. We have noted Pakistan’s proposal for a bus link between Lahore and Amritsar. We can assess the requirementfor this after progress on Delhi-Lahore bus, civil aviation and Samjhauta Express. 

8. We are ready for a calibrated increase in size of Missions, as the requirement grows with there-establishment of links, and setting up of new ones. However, there is no need to wait for this for holdingof visa camps, which would ease the situation for the normal traveller who otherwise has to come all the wayto Delhi or Islamabad to get visas. We would urge Pakistan to reconsider this. 

9. As far as Pakistan’s offer of 100 scholarships is concerned, we believe that the process of building trustand cooperation between India and Pakistan, and establishing lasting peace, would be facilitated if offers arenot targetted on any particular region of India. India has never adopted, for instance, a selective approachfor Balochistan, Sind or NWFP, or for any particular community. Our offers have been available to anyPakistani. If Pakistan were to make such non-discriminatory and general offers of cooperation, then it wouldno doubt contribute to taking the process further. 

10. We are amused at Pakistan’s profession of concern at the plight of disabled and negatively affected peoplein the state of Jammu & Kashmir. If Pakistan’s concerns are really sincere, it should take immediatesteps to end infiltration, dismantle the infrastructure of support to terrorism, and offer compensation tothose affected by the terrorism it has sponsored. Its references to alleged repression on J&K areobviously only a ploy for its failed attempt to camouflage its sponsorship and support for terrorism. 

11. I would also like to reiterate that Jammu & Kashmir is not a disputed territory. The only issue thatremains to be resolved for a final settlement of J&K, is the question of Pakistan’s illegal occupationof a portion of the State. 

12. Despite the limited positive responses from Pakistan, it is clear that our Prime Minister’s initiative hasgathered momentum. India would sincerely continue with the process, building on the successes achieved and thesupport generated, so that lasting peace is established between the two countries. We also remain committed toa dialogue process based on the premise that sustained dialogue requires an end to cross border infiltrationand terrorism. If Pakistan perceives, as it has claimed, that Composite Dialogue is in mutual interest, itmust immediately put an end to its sponsorship of cross border terrorism. 

Question: Pakistani Foreign Secretary quoted Yashwant Sinha saying that the 12 proposals made on 22nd October was atactical move on part of India. He also said that EAM while briefing BJP foreign cell said that theseproposals were win- win situation and also wants to split Hurriyat. What is your reaction? 

Navtej Sarna: I have been instructed by EAM that such news reports which attributes all these statements to him about"tactical moves" and "win-win situation" are absolutely false and baseless. The proposals which wereunveiled by EAM on 22nd October after the CCS meeting are marked by the same spirit of sincerity which havemarked all aspects of Prime Minister’s peace initiative since April 18. It is most unfortunate that thePakistani Foreign Office, when defining its response chose to rely on these baseless and speculative newsreports. 

Question: Will talks on resumption of Samjhauta Express not take place if Civil Aviation talks fail? 

Navtej Sarna: We hope that the Civil Aviation talks will be successful. 

Question: Yesterday Pakistan offered assistance for Kashmiris widows and rape victims. What if Pakistan is ready toprovide treatment to them? Will India allow them to avail? 

Navtej Sarna: I have given you our response on two aspects: The first is on the issue of directing any proposals to aspecific region. The second is about professing concern about the people who are disabled and negativelyeffected in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. We have given you our response that they are so effected becauseof the sponsorship of cross border terrorism, perpetrated and supported by Pakistan. If they are sincere intheir concern then the answer lies in ending infiltration, dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism andstopping the sponsorship of terrorism. 

Question: You have covered in your response all the Pakistani proposals except one that India should allow InternationalHuman Right Commissions to make list of all victims in Jammu and Kashmir due to repressions. 

Navtej Sarna: I think you should read the statement carefully and you will find all the responses there. There is a clearreference to the alleged repression in Jammu and Kashmir - the Pakistani comments are only a ploy for itsfailed attempts to camouflage sponsorship and support of terrorism. 

Question: Given India’s well known position on ending terrorism, how do you see these talks proceeding? 

Navtej Sarna: Which talks? 

Question: …all these proposals and counter proposals.. 

Navtej Sarna: If you ask me a specific question I will be able to give you a brief on that point. 

Question: Theoretically, should people of Jammu and Kashmir seek the scholarship offer by Pakistan. Will IndianGovernment allow them? 

Navtej Sarna: I don’t want to get into speculative theoretical debate in this press conference. As far as Pakistan’sspecific offer of 100 scholarships is concerned I have just given you our response and reiterated it.