HVK Archives: Basis for talks
Basis for talks - Indian Express
Editorial
()
6 June 1996
Title : Basis for talks
Author : Editorial
Publication : Indian Express
Date : June 6, 1996
BENAZIR BHUTTO's rather effuisive message of
congratulations to Prime Minister Deve Gowda, proposing
unconditional talks between the two countries, may have
been the result of the relief she felt over the departure
of the supposedly hardline BJP Government. But Islamabad
will do well to bear in mind that when it comes to
foreign policy, there is little difference between
competing Indian parties. Arguably, negotiations with a
team led by I.K. Gujral are likely to begin in a somewhat
more relaxed atmosphere than with one led by Sikander
Bakht so far as Pakistan is concerned, but that will be
more a matter of perception than reality. For, when it
comes to basics, the Deve Gowda Government can afford to
be no more accommodating than any other Indian team.
This is all the more so because the Pakistan Prime
Minister's offer is not as "unconditional" as it feigns
to be. Bhutto has stressed the need for a settlement of
the "core issue" of Kashmir along with other problems and
has drawn sustenance from the Janata Dal manifesto's
reference to the "sentiments" of the Kashmiris. However,
such "sentiments" have nothing to do with accession to
Pakistan, as Bhutto seems fondly to believe. They relate
to the holding of elections or the nature of the State's
autonomy within the Indian system.
Therefore, if Bhutto is really intent on opening a "new
chapter" in bilateral relations, her first and foremost
task should be to call off her govemment's patronage of
the terrorist operations in Kashmir and elsewhere in
India. It is obvious enough that no Indian Government
can engage in ameaningful dialogue with Pakistan as long
as the notorious Inter-Services Intelligence sets off
bombs in crowded marketplaces, buses and elsewhere in
India, apart from providing training in the use of arms
and dispatching groups of mercenaries across the border
into Kashmir. Before any talks can begin, Pakistan will
have to dropitspre- tence of providing "moral" support to
the terrorists and using every available opportunity to
raise the Kashmir issue at international forums. India
has never been opposed to talks, on Kashmir or any other
issue, but these must be held without third party
intervention and after taking into account the fact that
the process of history which has seen Kashmir's
integration with India cannot be undone. This is the
bottom line of all administrations in India, whether run
by the United Front or the BJP or the Congress, and the
sooner Pakistan - and its overactive patrons - appreciate
this, the better for all concerned.
=
Back
Top
|