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  • Aug 25th, 2004
  • Comments Off on Indian charges of ‘infiltrations’ rejected
Pakistan has rejected in toto the allegations in the Indian External Ministry's annual report that the so-called 'infiltrations' continued across the Line of Control in Occupied Kashmir, saying that the report presented a mysterious scenario and was contradictory.

"Its chapter on Jammu and Kashmir did not string together as in one sentence it went up and in the other it went down", Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said when a questioner sought his comments on the Indian official survey of its external relations.

Masood said at his press briefing here on Tuesday that by such allegations New Delhi wanted to cover up its abuses of human rights in the occupied territory.

He said that Pakistan had never been involved in the so-called "infiltrations into Indian occupied Kashmir", and did not intend to do so as it believed in a peaceful dialogue process.

He said that Pakistan had joined India in the current composite dialogue with an open mind and welcomed the reciprocal sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Indian Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi, and wanted to proceed with it.

Masood said that the region did not live in a "cold war era" and therefore the Indian leadership should change their "mind-set, adjust to contemporary realities and stop maligning Pakistan".

He also urged Indian officials not to "muddy the waters" before the meeting of the Foreign Ministers next month in New Delhi as "higher goals are at stake". He called for continued efforts for confidence-building measures (CBMs).

Masood said the first round of composite dialogue had been completed and the progress would be reviewed when Khurshid Kasuri and Natwar Singh would meet in New Delhi next month.

The first round that was completed by a meeting of the Commerce Secretaries early this month dealt with eight-point agenda which was settled by Foreign Secretaries of the two countries in last spring paving the way for meeting of various working groups.

Reviewing the progress of the dialogue for a questioner, Masood regretted that so far the dialogue had not gained any positive results.

He urged the Indian officials to look forward to realities and work for success of the current process.

He confirmed that in the recent talks, Pakistan and India had discussed matters like Siachen glacier and that Islamabad had also asked New Delhi for a date on which a bus service between Muzzaffarabad and Srinagar could be started. The issue would again come up before the Ministerial Council when it meets next month.

Referring to the talks between Pakistan and Afghan leaders during the two-day visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai here, Masood Khan confirmed that the question of Pakistan's prisoners still in Afghan jails was discussed earlier in the day and added that there had been a breakthrough. There are estimated 400 prisoners in Afghan jails arrested during and after the American invasion of Afghanistan.

He said that nearly 200 or 250 others were also in Afghan custody for violations of consular regulations or aliens law and some of them would be released soon.

About Pakistani prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, Masood said the number had now come down to 60 to 62, and 25 of them had already returned to Pakistan.

He said that a delegation under Brig Cheema had detailed discussions about these prisoners in Washington a couple of months ago. Commenting on the visit of President Hamid Karzai, he said there was the question relating to participation of Afghan refugees still in Pakistan in the October 9 Afghan presidential relation, and added that a Memo of Understanding on the issue had been signed by the two governments.

Karzai had also been assured of Pakistan's commitment against allowing its territory for terrorism in Afghanistan, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004


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