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AS was being expected of the post-election scenario in
India, its’ new External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh has
come out with an atypical pose questioning the subtext of
January-6 joint statement of President Musharraf and Prime
Minister Vajpayee and said that the Congress Government will
pursue dialogue with Pakistan on the basis of 1972 Simla
Accord.
Apparently in his exuberance to ridicule the BJP Government’s
foreign policy, Natwar Singh has started resorting to howlers
even to demolish the very edifice of the present relaxed state
of relations between Pakistan and India.
Just a day after he surreptitiously opted to suggest
sidelining the Kashmir issue, he has now challenged the
vitality of the January-6 joint statement, which had led to a
series of CBMs on both sides and has created a congenial
atmosphere for resumption of the stalled dialogue between the
two countries.
He has every right to blast the BJP Government’s policies and
actions, but there is hardly any wisdom in undermining the
dynamics of dialogue process for normalization of Indo-Pak
relations, which he himself admits is in the interest of the
people of both countries.
We are, however, convinced that neither his suggestion to
sideline the Kashmir issue is pragmatic nor his assertion
about the January-6 statement is reflective of his known
foreign policy expertise. Unfortunately, Natwar’s statements
are devoid of the sensitivity to the objective realities of
the situation.
We are constrained to say that his statements do not encourage
hope for the vast majority of people in the South Asian
region, who want peace, security, progress and prosperity.
The Kashmir issue cannot be sidelined, since it’s because of
this dispute that the two countries have remained in a state
of confrontation and conflict for half a century. They have
fought wars and the Kashmiris have rendered tremendous
sacrifices for the restitution of their right to
self-determination. India is confronted with uprising in
occupied Kashmir for Kashmiris want freedom from Indian yoke.
As President Musharraf has said, it is immaterial for Pakistan
whether talks are held under Simla Accord or under the
January-6 joint statement. What is imperative is that the
dialogue should be resumed to find a solution to the Kashmir
issue, which is acceptable to India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri
people.
India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and, as such, a special
responsibility devolves on their leadership to conduct in a
manner that may bring peace and amity rather than drifting the
nuclear neighbours to the path of confrontation and conflict.
It will be thus apt that the Indian Government should try to
advance the peace process with no frivolity of Simla Accord or
joint statement in the overall best interest of regional peace
and stability in South Asia—which can, in no way afford to
face perils of any style.
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