Coordinated Tango Of Quid Pro Quo

Would you like to comment on the Indian Express report today that India andPakistan militaries can talk to de-escalate?

I think that article made it quite clear that India is still waiting for appropriateand specific concrete action from Pakistan on the issue of infiltration, an end to infiltration, on thedismantling of the infrastructure of terrorism, deliverance on the assurances and the pledges made byPakistan. There is a certain connection here for we have to see action on the ground before the issue ofde-escalation can be considered in depth.
 
Are there any concrete steps that Government of India is considering for de-escalation?

I don't think we are at that stage where we could be talking of pre-determined steps.The quote that was reflected in today's Indian Express article spoke about no "coordinated tango of quidpro quo" I think you should keep this in mind.
 
Given the fact that soldiers/jawans are allowed to avail leave, don't you think that it is a sign ofde-escalation?

You would really have to address that question to the Ministry of Defence. I don'twant to stray into areas which are beyond my normal sphere of comment or discussion. So please address thatquestion to Ministry of Defence.

Both the Ministry of Defence and Army have said that infiltration has gone downsignificantly. Can you confirm that?

Certainly there is a decline and various agencies in the government have pointed tothat but as it has been said earlier here and by various spokespersons of the  government we have to seehow visible, how established the trend is going to be over the next period of time.
 
What is the time frame?

No, I am afraid I can't give you a time frame on that. The judgment has to be left tothe government to really to decide, once we are convinced, we are satisfied about it on the ground. When wetalk of a time frame what is meant is that we will take appropriate steps at a time we determine to be theright time.

There general impression is that India has started taking steps to de-escalate..Any comment?

I can't be expected to comment on that. These are some inferences you are drawing butfor me to comment I don't think I should be commenting on that. I have given you the position of thegovernment and there are certain pledges made by the government of Pakistan, firstly, that they will endinfiltration, secondly that there will be an end to cross-border terrorism, thirdly that there will bedismantling of the infrastructure of terrorism and these steps would be not only permanent but also visible onthe ground. There was also been acknowledgement by the international community that these should be to thesatisfaction of India.
 
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has said that the US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld came to Indiawith a proposal to deploy US military in Kashmir. Can you confirm that?

Frankly, I am not aware of any such proposal having been made by the Secretary ofDefence Mr. Rumsfeld while he was here.
 
Pakistan Information Minister has said that "Kashmir is not just a border dispute but an unfinishedagenda of partition and that Pakistan would continue to give political, moral and diplomatic support to theKashmiri freedom movement". What do you have to say on that?

I think the reference you made to the statement you just spoke of as having been madeby the Information Minister of Pakistan is really a well-worn reiteration of what Pakistan has been sayinglong, I don't see anything new, novel or different in what the Information Minister of Pakistan has said inthe statement that you have just referred to. This is yet another expression of the fact that Pakistan simplyseeks to trot out this well-worn position and that there is very little vision for a peaceful resolution ofthis problem as far as Pakistan is concerned.

Do you have anything to say on the Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Lyngdoh'sstatement on the international observers in J&K forthcoming election?

That has been clarified today. As far as observers are concerned it is the decision ofthe Election Commission. As far as previous elections have been  concerned, there has been a system wheregovernment observers, officials from various ministries and departments were sent to observe the elections. Soif you are talking of election observers it would apply to the system that has been followed in previouselections in different parts of India.
 
What about foreign observers?

I think the reference was to individuals, foreign individuals, whether they arejournalists or public figures or people who have an interest in the area wishing to visit  J&K duringthe election period. But these people do not fall within the category of election observers as recognised bythe Election Commission to the best of my knowledge.
 
Have we officially communicated to the Pakistan government about the lifting of restriction on over flyingIndia airspace?

Yes. In fact, the decision to remove the restriction on over flights of Pakistaniaircraft/Pakistani airlines was communicated to the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan on the very day thatthis announcement was made to the media.
 
Was there any other procedural process to follow after that?
We did mention that there would be clearances required from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministryof Civil Aviation and the DGCA. These are formal clearances that would need to be applied for.