Author: Indrani Bagchi
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 12, 2002
Christiana Rocca's peace mission
can expect a hard landing here next week. India is preparing a strong message
to the U5 that New Delhi will take a serious view of Islamabad's attempts
to rachet up infiltration across the Line of Control (LOC). India will
also tell the US official that Washington's efforts to 'defuse' the tension
was not particularly constructive, because what is needed is for Pakistan
to be asked to stop infiltration and cross-border terrorism, none of which
has been forthcoming. Ms Rocca is being dispatched to the region early
next week to prevent both countries from launching into what Washington
believes to be a spiralling conflict. Yesterday, the US secretary of state,
Colin Powell spoke to Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf and foreign
minister Jaswant Singh on the issue. 'The Secretary called President Musharraf
on Friday and Foreign Minister Singh yesterday to talk about India-Pakistan
issues, tensions along the Line of Control and what we might be able to
do, what they might do, what we might help them do to defuse those tensions.'
said the US state department spokesperson Boucher.
According to high level western
diplomatic sources, as infiltration figures have risen in the past few
weeks, India has indicated that it might take military action across the
LOC to take out terrorist camps which have once again sprouted in POK.
Indian intelligence reports, corroborated by other agencies have reported
a sharp rise in infiltration from across the LOC in March and April, signalling
Pakistan's unwillingness to address the issue of cross-border terrorism.
The fear of a military conflict, limited or otherwise, say those in the
know, has been the trigger for Ms Rocca's visit.
The US will argue that India needs
to be patient because Musharraf is in a weak position right now with jehadis
planning attacks and US troops on Pakistani soil. India, according to high
level sources, will instead make the 'unwilling' argument instead of the
'inability' one.
It was with this in mind that the
US ambassador, Robert Blackwill met the home minister, Mr L.K. Advani,
foreign minister, Jaswant Singh and national security adviser Brajesh Mishra
this past week to guage Indian reaction and advise caution and restraint.
As he has done in the past, Mr Blackwill also assured the Indian leadership
that the US would ensure Pakistan delivers some of those on the list of
20.
This 'face-saving' formula is expected
to be repeated by Rocca as well. Unfortunately, India is reluctant to take
the US at its word on calls for restraint. There is a definite feeling
here that the US is not doing enough to pressure Pakistan to get off the
terrorism tiger. In fact, the message that Blackwill reportedly received
from India was unequivocal: infiltration and cross-border terrorism was
non-negotiable, even if India was prepared to be flexible on the list of
20.
