'No Reference To Any So-Called Central Or Core Issue'

We have carefully examined the comments made by the PakistanPresident General Pervez Musharraf yesterday.

The language of the January 6 Islamabad Joint Press Statement is clear and unambiguous. It delineates how theprocess has to be sustained and taken forward. Violence, hostility and terrorism must be prevented. ThePresident of Pakistan had reassured the Prime Minister of India that he would not permit the territory underPakistan’s control to be used to support terrorism in any manner. There is no reference to any so-calledcentral or core issue, but to addressing all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Any unilateral interpretation of the Joint Press Statement is not conducive to building trust, or taking theprocess forward; nor is public rhetoric, which is also contrary to the understandings and restraints observedsince January.

Double standards in describing the violent attack on him as terrorism, but on the J&K Assembly in October2001, and on the present Chief Minister recently, as a "freedom fight" are clearly not tenable.

The reality of the vast goodwill among the people of the two countries, clearly manifested today, and beingfurther consolidated through the CBMs, needs to be acknowledged and built upon. Contrary efforts would not bein keeping with the sentiments of the people in both the countries.

India is determined to continue with the process initiated by the Prime Minister in April last year, and onthe basis of the framework agreed upon.

New Delhi
March 14, 2004