New Delhi, June 24
India today rejected Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's application for travelling to Jammu and Kashmir on June 30 by the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service but did not assign any specific reason for its prompt decision announced 24 hours after it received Mr Ahmed's request.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna made a very terse announcement in this regard when he said: "The Information Minister of Pakistan Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had applied to travel on the bus from Muzaffarabad to Srinagar. The Government of India has processed the application and has declined to accord permission taking into account all relevant aspects involved."
That New Delhi would not approve Sheikh Rashid's application was a foregone conclusion and the Pakistani minister had been conveyed through diplomatic channels a few days back that he should not apply for the entry permit for boarding the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service.
New Delhi is of the firm opinion that the Srinagar-Muzafarabad bus service, started with much fanfare from both sides on April 7, is meant to facilitate people-to-people contacts across the Line of Control and not an instrument for political activity by Pakistan government functionaries. The recent disclosures about the role Sheikh Rashid was reported to have played in promoting cross-border terrorism against India has only heightened the need for caution in this regard.
At the same time, Indian functionaries involved in the ongoing Indo-Pak dialogue process believe that the rejection of Sheikh Rashid's request for visiting J&K this month-end would not, and should not, dent the dialogue process. New Delhi is of the opinion that the dialogue process cannot be based on activities of people who at some point of time in their life and career, had run terrorist training camps.
On the other hand, the Indo-Pak peace process is based on people-to-people contacts and greater interaction and engagement between business and trading communities of the two countries.
It remains to be seen as to how Islamabad responds to an Indian minister's visit to Pakistan in future in view of the fact that Indo-Pak diplomacy is governed by the unwritten principal of reciprocity. However, no ministerial visit from India to Pakistan is on the horizon as of now.
What Pakistan makes of this development and whether it will be business as usual from Pakistan's perspective as regards the Indo-Pak dialogue process will become known next week only when the Pakistani Water Resource Secretary is due to come here for talks with his Indian counterpart on the Tulbul project
Sheikh Rashid is considered very close to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who consults him on important issues, especially on Kashmir. On many occasions, the Sheikh has attended sensitive diplomatic meetings along with Gen Musharraf. He was even present in Gen Musharraf's meetings with US President George Bush.
ISLAMABAD:
Unhappy over Indian Government’s decision not to permit him to travel to Jammu and Kashmir by Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus on June 30, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid today vowed to continue his support to the “peaceful freedom struggle” of Kashmiris.
“The Indian Government’s decision to impose ban on my travel to Srinagar has shocked and saddened me. It also frustrated those who were anxiously awaiting my visit. The decision also had upset my relatives,” Rashid told reporters here.
— PTI
