M A I L B A G

Creating a climate of trust

Apropos of H.K. Dua’s article “Balle-Balle is not peace: India, Pak have to cross many hurdles” (Nov 20), India cannot part with Kashmir and Pakistan too will not leave POK, presently under their illegal occupation. So the Line of Control should be made a permanent international border which Pakistan is unwilling to accept. Some solution with a give and take has to be found out. Rhetoric by political leaders need to be avoided. General Musharraf’s oft-repeated description of terrorist attacks in the Valley as “freedom struggle” is in bad taste and will not help improve matters.

Confidence building measures (CBMs) alone won’t do. Some courageous steps will have to be taken by both the leaders. Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s visit to India has created a climate of trust. Why not think of breaking barriers between the two parts of Kashmir, opening both for tourism and trade and giving maximum autonomy to both Kashmirs?

Prof K.L. BATRA, Yamunanagar

II

Mr Dua has rightly cautioned the media and the people not to be euphoric about the Indo-Pak peace and an early solution to the Jammu and Kashmir problem seems elusive. I feel General Musharraf is playing to the gallery. He will keep the Kashmir issue alive, as it suits him, to remain in  power.

On its part, India should follow five key steps. One, continue with CBMs as it is a positive step. Two, stick to no further division of Jammu and Kashmir as it is an integral part of India. Three, no further withdrawal of troops unless Pakistan reciprocates India’s gesture (let’s not allow another Kargil). Four, during peace talks with Pakistan, we must involve representatives from Jammu and Kashmir. And five, let us not take Pakistan for granted at any time.

MADHU SINGH, Army School, Ambala Cantt

III

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent statement that there is no need to redraw boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir is laudable. Pakistan, which is the epicentre of terrorism, has been cleverly exploiting the situation to bleed India through terrorist strikes.

Despite overt proclamation of friendship, Pakistan leaves no stone unturned to covertly target India through its nefarious gameplan to destablise peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

CBMs will not pay dividends. Coercive diplomacy and proactive military policy should be adopted by India to dismantle terrorist camps to liberate Pak-Occupied Kashmir and resolve the Kashmir issue once and for all.

Wg-Cdr GURMAIL SINGH (retd), Chandigarh

IV

Mr Dua is very right when he says, “The stage for discussing the nitty-gritty of any formula for solving the Kashmir question has not yet reached”. No compromise can be acceptable to the warring parties. India cannot afford to disown Kashmir or any of its part. Pakistan dare not relent from its stand on Kashmir. The silver lining, however, has appeared in the knotty problem in the shape of CBMs between the two countries.

The people of Pakistan are now awakening to the value of peaceful life and the rising sense of love and compassion in India as an evolutionary process.

S.K. DATTA, Former Principal, Abohar

Airtel hoardings hazardous In the Parking area in front of Chadigarh’s SCOs in Sector-35, on the dividing road of Sector 34 and 35, a number of signboards for parking of cars and scooters have been put up on poles at about an height of 6 ft. from the ground. These are safe and pose no danger to pedestrians as their height is more than the average height of a person. However, Airtel (Bharati Tele Ventures) have put up their advertisement boards on the same poles at a height of about 4-5 feet. These boards have sharp edges and pose a major hazard to passers by. In the evenings especially, the place is extremely crowded and the risk of injury is very high. I wonder if these hoardings of Airtel have been authorised by the authorities. I would like the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation authorities to look into this urgently, before someone gets seriously hurt. ASHOK HURIA, Hon. Secretary, National Safety Council, Sector 16-A, Chandigarh

Semester exams

Owing to the World Punjabi Conference and sports meet due in December at Patiala, the semester examinations of Punjabi University have been postponed. It is feared that the students may be asked to vacate their hostels from Dec 1 to 10. This will affect their preparation for the examinations which are scheduled to be held from Dec 15. The authorities should keep this factor in view while taking any decision regarding getting students vacated from the hostels.

T.L. SHARMA, Nangal Township (Ropar)

Wasting power

Street lights in Ludhiana are not switched off early morning. One can see them between 6 a.m. and 12 noon in one area or the other. When Punjab does not have adequate power, why is electricity being wasted like this? Government offices, banks etc., also waste power. The government should regulate this and take steps to conserve energy.

RAJESH KALRA, Ludhiana