Focus will be on Kashmir during summit, says Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 7. With just a week left for the summit-level dialogue between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistani military ruler and the President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, in Agra, the message from here is loud and clear. From the Pakistan point of view, Kashmir shall and will be the focus of the agenda of the talks and Islamabad would not allow New Delhi to detract from the main item of its agenda.

This was the crux of the message sought to be conveyed by the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman at the question-answer session on Friday afternoon, and the terse statement his office issued hours after the interactive session with journalists.

Enquiries with all those concerned in the military establishment about the outburst of the Pakistan Foreign Office on Friday on the alleged `sharp increase' in incidents of rape and molestation by Indian forces and acts of unprovoked firing reveal that it was meant to convey a message to New Delhi. The message was that as far as Pakistan is concerned the summit is all about a free and frank dialogue on Kashmir.

Perhaps, the military establishment believes that India is trying to define the parameters of the agenda of the summit by the kind of announcements made on Friday and Wednesday.

It is believed that the Pakistani Foreign Secretary, Mr. Inamul Haq, conveyed the same impression when the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr. Vijay K. Nambiar, called on him on Friday evening.

Mr. Haq broached the subject of invitation to the Hurriyat for the tea party being hosted by the Pakistan High Commissioner in New Delhi on July 14 in honour of Gen. Musharraf.

Mr. Nambiar, on his part, reiterated the Indian position. He told the Pakistan Foreign Secretary that facilitation of any contact between Gen. Musharraf and the Hurriyat leaders during the visit of the former to India could dampen the summit atmosphere. But Mr. Haq was not impressed and went on to explain the Pakistani point of view.

`No fixed agenda'

Pakistan's approach towards the coming summit was evident from the repeated reference to the Kashmir issue by the Foreign Office spokesman on Friday. He made it clear that there would no fixed agenda and from the point of view of Pakistan, the summit should focus on Kashmir.

``Kashmir has been the rootcause of tensions between Pakistan and India and this is so acknowledged by the world. This issue has to be meaningfully addressed. . . We are looking forward to the summit resulting in a process which leads to a solution of the Kashmir problem in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The President has stated that he would go to Delhi with an open mind. We would discuss if any other issues are raised, but Kashmir would be the focus from the Pakistani point of view'', the spokesman said.

He even ruled out the possibility of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status issue figuring at the summit. ``India talks about MFN status but they, at the same time, have a number of structural and non-tariff barriers, with the result that the trade that exists between the two countries is heavily in favour of India. Anyhow, such matters can be discussed in the Foreign Secretary-level talks when held. All such issues will be addressed when the climate of relations between the two countries improves''.

`Looking for results'

Asked if in Pakistan's perceptions there is a positive climate in India for a `constructive dialogue', the spokesman said Pakistan was looking for positive results from the summit. It hoped that positive results would be achieved and there would be progress in addressing meaningfully the Kashmir issue. ``It would also lead to a resolution of other issues. We hope that the summit would lead to a new chapter of good normal relations between the two countries''.

When a journalist referred to the `bhai-bhai' package announced by New Delhi and sought his comment, he said that Pakistan had always been very sensitive to the humanitarian problems faced by people of both the countries.

In response to another question on the no-war pact offered by Pakistan, he said, ``it is an eminently reasonable proposal, which remains on the table. The details of such a pact would have to be negotiated once the other side is ready to discuss them, and naturally such a pact should have an in-built mechanism for addressing disputes''.

In a related development, the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad today left for New Delhi to prepare for the summit meeting. He would receive the Pakistani President in New Delhi when he arrives on a three-day official visit on July 14.

`Not officially told of CBMs'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 7. Pakistan has said that it would give `due consideration' to the proposals made by New Delhi on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) as and when they are received through official channels.

Reacting to the announcement made by the Foreign Office spokesperson in New Delhi on Friday, a statement by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement wondered why India had chosen to make public the proposals through the media.

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