Pakistan rejects allegations of Indian FM
Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan rejecting the allegations of Indian External Affairs Minister regarding "cross border terrorism" on Sunday said such statements are being used as a smokescreen for diverting attention from the real core issue between the two countries.

Commenting on the statement of Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, to raise the issue of "cross-border terrorism" and 25 terror-linked suspects, who are in Pakistan, during bilateral talks between foreign ministers of the two countries on September 5 and 6, the Spokesman of Foreign Office said Pakistan will hear out the Indian side, as have always done.

The spokesman however clarified that the Indian External Minister has repeated allegations of the so-called cross border terrorism which are baseless.

Gross HR Violations in IHK

The Foreign Office Spokesman said, what is really important and pressing is the dismantlement of the apparatus that supports gross and systematic violations
of human rights in Indian held Kashmir.

He said, "We welcome Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's message of goodwill and cooperation to our elected Prime Minister, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, and reciprocate his hope that we should take forward the process of dialogue in a constructive manner."

No Indian Suspect in Pakistan

Referring to the demand of wanted Indians suspects in Pakistan, the Spokesman said there are no wanted Indian suspects on Pakistani soil. In the last round of talks on terrorism held here in Islamabad, lists were exchanged by both sides, but such matters are not discussed through the media, the spokesman added.

The CBMs

The Spokesman referring to number of Confidence Building Measures said, "Let's not focus on quantity, but quality. This is not a numbers game."

He said Pakistan has also presented a number of proposals and all proposals are on the table. He said all measures have to be discussed, chaffed and winnowed.

The Spokesman said even more pivotal is the need to create durable peace and security through resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. He said, "No issue can be swept under the carpet."

Infiltration Charges Totally Baseless

And the Foreign Office Spokesman, Masood Khan has strongly rejected the Indian Foreign Minister's allegations of infiltration and said these were regrettable, baseless and have no reality.

Talking to 'Pakistan Times' Sunday the Spokesman said, "Indian Foreign Minister's so called allegation of infiltration across the Line of Control (LOC) is totally baseless and against the facts."

"Indian aim by leveling such allegations was to revert the concentration about central issue of Jammu and Kashmir", he added.

The fact is that India has been committing gross human rights violations in the held valley since long time and it is increasing day by day, he added.

The Spokesman welcomed the Indian Prime Minister's felicitation to Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and extending the hand of friendship and cooperation.

He said that Pakistan wants that the ongoing dialogue process should be meaningful and conducted in a constructive manner.

Natwar's Rhetoric on Kashmir

An earlier report from Bangalore said that the Indian Foreign Minister, Natwar Singh has said that New Delhi was ready for taking ahead confidence building measures with Pakistan, but in the same breath, he asserted that "Kashmir policy would not change and repeatedly accused Pakistan for infiltration into occupied Kashmir."

Addressing a press conference, Natwar Singh said that India wants to continue the amity and peace process with Pakistan and added, “India is ready to take more measures for confidence building with Pakistan.”

Consulates in Karachi and India

He said that New Delhi desires to open Consulate in Karachi and India has told Pakistan to set up one in Mumbai, while work on laying railway line between Pakistan and Rajisthan was under underway.

He said, “We want Pakistan to get ready for starting a bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad.”

With typical Indian mindset, marked by arrogance and delaying tactics, Natwar Singh once again accused Pakistan for infiltration into occupied Kashmir and said that this issue would be raised in September when Pakistani foreign minister would be visiting India.●