Author: Rajat Pandit
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 11, 2007
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_doesnt_buy_Pak_promise_on_Siachen/articleshow/1590331.cms
The ice on the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge
region will take some more time to melt.
With the trust deficit with Islamabad yet
to be bridged, India is not too impressed with Pakistan's "promise"
that it will not grab positions vacated by Indian soldiers on the glacial
heights.
India remains steadfast on its long-standing
position that Pakistan will have to agree to "authenticate"relative
troop positions on the strategic heights before their actual demilitarisation
can figure on the bilateral radar screen.
Asked about reports emanating from Pakistan
that "a breakthrough" on the Siachen imbroglio was "imminent",
defence minister A K Antony on Saturday said, "We want to improve our
relations with all our neighbours.
But statements are not enough, actions are
more important."Sources also ruled out any meeting of the Indian and
Pakistani director-generals of military operations specifically on the Siachen
issue, as suggested by Pakistan, holding that the weekly hotline mechanism
between the two was merely of "a procedural nature"rather than a
"policy-making or deciding one".
As per the Indian position, Pakistan will
have to accept a clear-cut mechanism to "authenticate"the 110-km
Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), the undelineated stretch between the last
marked grid reference point NJ-9842 on the LoC and the Karakoram Pass, before
any troop disengagement.
India wants the troop positions and withdrawal
plan to be made a part of the proposed agreement. Pakistan, in turn, is only
ready at the moment for what it calls the "major concession"of making
it part of the annexures to the main agreement.
Antony, however, has made it clear even earlier
that India's first pre-condition is that Pakistan must "accept"the
"present realities"on the ground. Recent Pakistani media reports
have held that Islamabad has given an assurance to New Delhi, through diplomatic
channels, that it has no hidden motives and will not make any attempt to occupy
the glacier.
Asked about Pakistani concerns that India's
proposed acquisition of 126 multi-role fighter aircraft would generate an
arms race, Antony said, "We are procuring military equipment not to confront
anybody but for minimum deterrence. We don't want any kind of arms race."
