M A I N   N E W S

India, Pak agree on prenotification of ballistic missiles
V. Mohan Narayan

Islamabad, September 1
Taking forward the peace process with Pakistan, India today proposed two additional bus routes between the two countries but firmly ruled out redrawing of boundaries or fixing “artificial deadlines” for resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue.

The two sides decided to continue the composite dialogue process and commence the third round by the end of this year and agreed to sign an agreement on pre-notification of ballistic missiles when Foreign Ministers meet here early October.

The Indian side has proposed bus routes between Lahore and Sir Hind (Ludhiana), and Kargil and Skardu, Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran told a press conference here after wide-ranging talks with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammad Khan to set the stage for the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in New York on September 14.

He said both sides have agreed “in principle” to increase the frequency of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service and that hotline between the two Foreign Secretaries would be set up soon.

The two sides have also agreed to hold technical-level talks for operationalising the Poonch-Rawalkot bus link, Saran said.

Saran said India was prepared to explore “all possible means” with Pakistan to come to a “mutually acceptable solution” to Kashmir issue.

He said during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz this evening he had conveyed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s message that India was determined to address all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir issue, with Pakistan.

It was also conveyed that “as far as India is concerned the parameters within which we can address the issue of J and K are well known. The Prime Minister has himself articulated these parameters. It is not possible to  look at the redrawing of boundaries or concessions in territorial terms”, Saran said.

India, he said, believed both countries had an obligation to minimise the “negative consequences” of the lines drawn on the map on the people on both sides of the border to make their lives easier.

Asked about Musharraf’s statements insisting on a timeframe for a resolution of the Kashmir issue, he said the Pakistan President “has not put any deadline to us on any issue between India and Pakistan” and added “putting artificial deadline is not the way to go about it.”

Saran said the two sides have also finalised the text of a memorandum of understanding between the Indian Coast Guards and Pakistan Maritime Agency for communication links between them. This could be signed during the visit of External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh here from October 3 to 5.

Observing that he was “very satisfied” with the discussions, Saran said it had set the stage for a “very constructive” and “very productive” meeting between Musharraf and Singh in New York on the sideline of UN General Assembly session.

Asked whether the issue of Sarabjit Singh, sentenced to death for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan was raised, Saran said it was not just the issue of one prisoner but a humanitarian issue of so many prisoners on both sides.

To a question on India thinning its troops in J and K, he said there was adverse security situation in that region because of cross-border terrorism, attempts at infiltration and violent terrorist incidents.

“Unless, the security situation improves, the question of redeployment of security forces really does not arise,” he asserted adding “terrorism and violence cannot go hand-in-hand with the peace process”.

Ruling out any trilateral dialogue on the J and K issue, he said there was an elected government in the state and the doors were open for those who wished to contribute to the stability and peace in the state. — PTI