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Infiltration must stop completely: Haass

Infiltration must stop completely: Haass

Author: Amit Baruah
Publication: The Hindu
Date: October 30, 2002
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/10/30/stories/2002103004661400.htm

The United States believes that it is "`undesirable'' for the India-Pakistan relationship to be as "thin'' as it is and favoured a ``bottom-up approach'' to "strengthen'' the ties.

Speaking to a group of presspersons this morning, Richard Haass, director (Policy Planning Staff) in the U.S. State Department, said that even at the height of the Cold War, American and Soviet diplomats had extensive exchanges on a daily basis.

Calling for practical ways to increase the relations between Indian and Pakistani societies, economies and the Governments, Mr. Haass wanted the official dialogue between the two countries to include infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC), but not limit the talks to the issue.

"Clearly, infiltration across the Line of Control is continuing,'' he said, maintaining that it was a cause of "considerable concern'' to the U.S. and would figure in his talks with the Pakistani leadership tomorrow. Infiltration, he stressed, must stop completely.

Mr. Haass made it clear that the U.S., gently, but consistently, would seek the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan and differed with the Indian view that dialogue should resume only after cross-LoC infiltration ended completely. This was not a time for "ambitious diplomacy,'' he said.

In the American view, it would be best if the dialogue took place parallel to the steps to end the cross-LoC infiltration and this was something that India had to "mull over''.

"We are going to have the formation of a new Pakistani Government. Let's see what it looks like... '' he said, calling for a "bit of space and time.'' Asked whether the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, should travel to Islamabad for the SAARC summit, Mr. Haass said it was not appropriate for him to comment on the issue.

``That's a decision for the Prime Minister and his Government to make. Obviously, they have got to determine whether it will be a constructive use of his time,'' he said. ``We clearly support efforts to bring about greater discussions between the two Governments, greater interaction... ''

Mr. Haass was of the view that de-mobilisation of some troops along the border provided some "breathing space'' and hoped that elections in Jammu & Kashmir would lead to better governance. The elections in Pakistan, he said were a step in the right direction.

Differing diametrically with the stand taken by New Delhi on the Pakistani polls, Mr. Haass said the U.S. looked forward to working with a Government in Pakistan whatever be its complexion or composition.

Asked whether the U.S. was concerned by the rise of Islamist elements in Pakistan, he said America as a democracy had to respect the preferences of the people. So long as the people who did well by the ballot box respected the standards of democracy and pluralism afterwards, the U.S. would not have any problems.

"What matters to us are the policies they (a reference to the Islamists in Pakistan) advocate, whether they are members of a Government or not,'' he said, choosing not to go into specifics when asked about the fact that groups like the Jamaat-I-Islami and the JUI (F) were the principal sources of "jehadi cadres'' operating in Jammu & Kashmir.

Stating that he was not going to "pre-judge'' the Pakistani Government, he said, "`we look forward to working with them. We'll make clear what our priorities are... we'll make clear what we feel strongly about... the question of support for terrorism in any form will be one of the issues that will arise.''

On why the Bush administration, unlike the Clinton one, had stopped stressing the sanctity of the LoC and an end to "map-making'', Mr. Haass said it was not the time for "final status issues."

Choosing not to answer the question directly, he said the time was not ripe for a final settlement between India and Pakistan and called for more "modest thinking'' to end infiltration, promote dialogue, establish economic and transport lines and go for cultural, sporting and parliamentary exchanges.

Mr. Haass, who referred to a meeting with Indian Muslim leaders yesterday, said his feedback was that matters were going on smoothly for the Muslim minority in India, even though there had been some unfortunate incidents. Muslims here, he said, were not tempted to think of alternative routes, including terrorism, adding that India was a society, where everyone, regardless of religion, had opportunities.

On his discussions with the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, on Iraq, he said there was understanding that Iraq should abide by obligations to the U.N. on weapons of mass destruction and that any action against Iraq should take place on the basis of the U.N. resolutions. The U.S. he said, had no desire to go to war in Iraq, and if it had to, the force of the U.N. resolutions would be behind America.

The U.S. had the tools to deal with multiple challenges like Iraq and the Al-Qaeda and there had been no "cooling off'' in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

On Afghanistan, he said the country had travelled quite far and quite fast, but it would be years before it achieved any kind of self-sufficiency. The U.S. was in Afghanistan for a long haul, adding that when States fell into disrepair they posed not just a humanitarian problem, but a strategic one too.

Describing terrorism as the "dark side of globalisation,'' he said the international community's response had to be global. There was no "exit strategy'' in the war against terrorism, only an endurance strategy.
 


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