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| talks under shadow of kashmir turmoil | | | Just five days are left for much awaited meeting between the Foreign ministers of India and Pakistan.India's Foreign Minister,S.M.Krishna,is scheduled to have a meeting with his counterpart,Shah Mehmood Qureshi,in Islamabad on July 15.In fact decks for the Krishna-Qureshi talks have been cleared and the agenda fixed during the recent meeting between the two foreign secretaries,Nirupama Rao,and Salman Bashir in Islamabad.Earlier one had high hopes on the Krishna-Qureshi talks to the extent that the two sides could renew their pledge to promote cordial ties between India and Pakistan.But the three-week long turmoil in the Kashmir valley may cast a thick shadow on the proposed talks and that too when voices have multiplied in Pakistan urging the establishment in Islamabad to cancel the bilateral parleys because of killing of civilians in police firing in Kashmir.Well even in the absence of violence in Kashmir one would have not expected miracles from
Krishna-Qureshi talks.One would not expect the the two foreign ministers to settle the Kashmir issue and other bilateral problems.There was hope that the two sides,while trying to reduce the level of trust deficit,formulate a plan which could promote peace in the region.It is in this connection that Delhi has made it known that it would lay emphasis on a discussion on peace,security and terrorism as the three issues are closely interlinked.The two sides may not miss a detailed discussion on the turmoil in Kashmir ceasefire violations on the LOC and the International Border in Jammu besides assistance militants have been receiving by agencies across the border in infiltrating into Jammu and Kashmir.Since the Union Home Minister,P.C.Chidambaram,had a meeting with his counterpart,Rehman Malik,in Islamabad recently,where the two exchanged notes on Pakistan'Government's action against the perperators of the Mumbai attack the issue may not figure during
the
meeting between the two foreign ministers.Political analysts fear further escalation in the level of violence in Kashmir and in the rate of infiltration on the plea that some agencies across the LOC were opposed to result-oriented Indo-Pak dialogue which could ensure peace.These incidents of violence and ingress may witnesse upward curve simply to force either Delhi or Islamabad to choke the channels of dialogue.In fact the situation is so fluid in Kashmir that Delhi may be forced to think twice on whether to keep the channels of dialogue open or plug them.But indications are that Delhi may not opt for any extreme step which could force it to lose sympathy and support from the American Government.The US Government has been in favour of sustained dialogue between Delhi and Islamabad so that various irritants,that have strained the relations,were resolved and removed.For Delhi it is important to persuade Islamabad on taking stern measures against the
terror infrastructure that exists in Pakistan.
The US agencies have,in their latest report,revealed that Al Qaeda continued to rum arms training camps in Pakistan.This is a red signal not only for America but for India also.And during the last over 15 months Pakistan has been pleading for the resumption of the dialogue.After great reluctance India responded favourably and the stage for bilateral dialogue was set when the Pakistan foreign secretary,Salman Bashir,met India's foreign secretary,Nirupama Rao,in Delhi on February 25.Though Islamabad had not initiated any action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist srike Delhi demonstrated its magnanimity in opening the channels of dialogue.And it will be unfortunate and inimical to peace if Islamabad fails to take adequate measures for dismantling the terror infrastructure that exists in Pakistan.Any more dilly dallying may provoke Delhi to suspend,if not cancel,the bilateral parleys.Hence the ball is in the court of Pakistan.(eom)
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