New Delhi, April 20
Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has observed that India looks forward to Pakistan implementing its assurances in letter and spirit so that the peace process between the two neighbours is not hindered by violence and terror, the Sino-Indian strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity transcends bilateral issues.
While India and Pakistan should remain conscious of the difficulties ahead, Dr Manmohan Singh observed in identical statements made in the two Houses of Parliament today on the visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that the threat to peace in Indo-Pak relations from extremist forces and terrorist organisations had not been eliminated. “Therefore, I mentioned to President Musharraf that the whole process of serious and sustained dialogue hinges on building an atmosphere of trust and confidence, free from violence and terror.”
He noted that a major outcome of Mr Wen’s visit was the agreement on political parameters and guiding principles for the settlement of the India-China boundary question. This agreement is truly “a milestone” and provides a “political settlement” of the boundary question in the context of the “overall long-term interests of the two countries. Both sides have agreed that an early boundary settlement should be pursued as a strategic objective. “While this understanding is of great significance, we do acknowledge that we are still quite some distance away from a final boundary settlement.”
China regarded Sikkim as an “inalienable part of India” and that it was no longer an issue in India-China relations. The joint statement signed explicitly refers to “Sikkim state of the Republic of India.” The Chinese side has officially handed over a revised map showing Sikkim as within the international boundaries of India.
Dr Manmohan Singh said the India-China partnership also reflects “our desire to pro-actively resolve outstanding differences while not letting them come in the way of continued development of relations.”
“In the meantime, China and India have agreed that they will strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control (LAC), maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and expedite the work of clarification and confirmation of the LAC. The protocol signed by the two sides on the modalities for the implementation of confidence building measures in the military field in the border areas will help in maintaining peace along the LAC.”
During his talks with General Musharraf, the Prime Minister emphasised on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir that while redrawing of boundaries was not possible, all measures that could bring the peoples on both sides together, including increased transportation linkages to facilitate greater traffic of people and trade across the Line of Control (LoC) would help the process and create an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence.
“President Musharraf stressed the importance of addressing the Jammu and Kashmir issue. At the same time he agreed that the CBMs between the two countries had made significant progress. We agreed to pursue further measures to enhance interaction and cooperation across the LoC, including agreed meeting points for divided families, trade, pilgrimages and cultural interaction.”
