Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 9, 2006
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_full_story.php?content_id=85539
Introduction: Pak president had suggested
demilitarization of 3 areas
India today reminded Pakistan that its commitment
to not let its territory be used for cross border terrorism against India
was ''unconditional'' and could not be linked with any proposal for demilitarisation
in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The government was responding to Pakistan
President Pervez Musharraf's repackaged idea of demilitarising areas of Jammu
and Kashmir-this time, the three cities of Srinagar, Baramulla and Kupwara-which
he spoke of during an interview to CNN-IBN.
Were India to demilitarise the three cities,
Musharraf said, he would ensure that there was no militancy in these areas.
''Let all the military move out of the cities to the outskirts...Pakistan
will be with the Indian government and Kashmiris to ensure that there will
be total peace and tranquillity in these three places.''
Pakistan has made such proposals several times
recently, including a suggestion for creating seven demilitarised zones across
Kashmir, including in PoK. In New York, last September, Musharraf called for
troop withdrawal when he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines
of the UN General Assembly session. In November, Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz
reiterated the call for demilitarisation and self-governance when he met Singh
at Dhaka during the SAARC summit.
The Indian response has remained unchanged.
''Any demilitarisation or redeployment of security forces within the territory
of India is a sovereign decision...and cannot be dictated by a foreign government,''
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna said.
India has made it clear that as long as the
security situation in J-K, as well as in other parts of the country, is ''adversely
affected by the phenomenon of cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan-based
terrorist groups, India will fulfill its responsibility to safeguard the lives
and security of its citizens''.
During the interview, Musharraf appeared quite
candid in his assurances of no ''militancy'' if the Pakistani proposal was
accepted. ''Whatever influence anyone can wield on anyone I will wield to
the utmost,'' he said. ''But if somebody wants a certificate that not even
one bullet will be fired, I will not be able to do that.''
However, New Delhi is firm in its insistence
that what is happening in J-K is not ''mere militancy'' but ''terrorism''
which has to be stopped. Reminding the Pakistan President of his ''solemn
assurances'' that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for cross
border terrorism against India, Sarna said: ''The implementation of this commitment
is unconditional. Pakistan should implement its solemn commitments forthwith
so that the peace process...can make progress.''
