New Delhi, June 16
India today made a categorical statement that Jammu and Kashmir was its integral part, saying that External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh’s stand was not “his personal view” but was a reiteration of “the provisions of the Constitution of India”.
“The External Affairs Minister was not giving his personal views or simply making a statement. He was reiterating the provisions of the constitution of India,” a spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry said in response to questions on General
Musharraf’s statement on Pakistan radio and television last night.
Referring to India’s position on the dialogue, she said “Our approach is defined by realism and we have the high road to walk together.”
General Musharraf, during his “Face the Nation” programme on Pakistan Television, had regretted Mr Jaswant Singh’s comments on Kashmir being an integral part of India and had expressed the hope that his statement was just a view and not a position that would be taken during the forthcoming summit.
Reacting to General Musharraf’s observation that he would be going to India with an “open mind”, the spokesperson said, “how can we gauge how open a mind is until it is opened.”
General Musharraf had also said Kashmir was the “core issue” and hoped the focus of the summit would be on Kashmir and not on other issues.
At a press conference on May 28, Jaswant Singh had said “the whole of Jammu and Kashmir is an integral component of India and that stand remains unaltered. The question of referendum does not simply arise.”
The External Affairs Minister had also referred to a 1994 resolution of Parliament declaring that Jammu and Kashmir is a part of India.
General Musharraf, during his two-hour-long interactive programme, had said that the Indian suggestion of an eight-point composite dialogue was acceptable to him only if it included Kashmir.
“My agenda is very clear. Kashmir is the agenda. We must talk of Kashmir. If India wanted to talk something else it is all right. If they use eight points and do not want to discuss Kashmir, it is unacceptable”, he said.
The eight points General Musharraf referred to were agreed upon by foreign secretaries of the two countries in 1998 envisaging a composite dialogue on peace and security, including confidence-building measures, J and K, Siachin, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug-trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation and promotion of friendly exchanges in various fields.
