The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

NEWS AND VIEWS

PUNJAB

HARYANA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

HIMACHAL

REGIONAL BRIEFS

NATION

OPINIONS

MAILBAG

BUSINESS

SPORTS

WORLD

SPECIAL COVERAGE

CHANDIGARH

LUDHIANA

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

Too early to talk of J&K solution: Brajesh
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 15
Former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra firmly believes it is too early to expect a solution to the Kashmir problem and that the atmosphere today is "not yet conducive for compromises on both sides."

He maintained in an interview to BBC's Hardtalk India that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf should not insist on quick solutions about the Kashmir issue as it is not going to happen.

Mr Mishra, who was also erstwhile Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's Principal Secretary, observed that if tomorrow Gen Musharraf sits down with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and talks about a solution, "there is going to be no solution. However, it is not premature to explore options but premature to think that you can come to a speedy solution as the Pakistan President has indicated more than once."

He said an atmosphere conducive to a compromise has not arisen. Though such an atmosphere seems impossible today it will become probable tomorrow. "Although the peace process will continue, it will encounter bumps on the road."

As Mr Vajpayee's close confidant and the BJP-led NDA government's key interlocutor with Pakistan, Mr Mishra provided some interesting insight about the discussions with his Pakistani counterpart Tariq Aziz. At one point he disclosed that Gen Musharraf desperately needed the joint statement issued by the two countries in January 2004 on the sidelines of the Saarc summit. In that statement, Gen Musharraf had pledged not to allow territories under Pakistan's control for terrorist activities directed against India.

He noted that his discussions with Mr Aziz were extremely critical and without them the statement would not have come about. "We had three meetings outside India and Pakistan and in those meetings we were able to hammer out the differences on how to proceed in initiating the composite dialogue. The back channel discussions were on for seven months.

Mr Mishra said the peace process will not hit a wall or come to a stop and if it continues with some give on the part of Pakistan with regard to trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, it will facilitate in creating a conducive atmosphere for a compromise.

He acknowledged that the 2001 Agra summit between India and Pakistan "failed very badly" and contended that he was not involved in the decision to invite Gen Musharraf. "The decision was taken at a political level and I was not consulted though I would have had reservations about it."

Mr Mishra said the January 6, 2004, statement was different because the earlier assurances came through third parties and "we were never sure what was said by Gen Musharraf to the gentleman concerned."

What was significant was that Gen Musharraf gave a commitment in writing not to permit terrorism from Pakistani controlled territory in any manner. "Now this is a commitment given by a Head of State to a Head of Government from India and I think we should take it seriously. We took it seriously at that time and it was not a question of trust or distrust."

He said Gen Musharraf desperately needed a joint statement when we were in Islamabad and he made it very clear. "We were prepared to come away without a statement. Having gone there for the Saarc summit and made our contribution there, we were quite satisfied. Gen Musharraf was extremely keen to have a joint statement with Prime Minister Vajpayee which he could not get in Agra."