Author:
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 31, 2001
The unilateral peace initiative
taken by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was sabotaged by Pakistan,
the Defence Ministry said in its annual report released on Thursday, ahead
of the summit between New Delhi and Islamabad.
The 128-page report which contains
a review of India's security environment with particular reference to its
neighbours during the year 2000-2001, highlights Pakistan's role in the
violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Pakistan continued with its hostile
approaches and policies towards India," the report said accusing Islamabad
of stepping up its sponsorship of cross border terrorism.
Refering to Prime Minister's peace
initiative and its three extensions, the report said the move was widely
welcomed by the people of the state, but terrorist groups close to Pakistan
intelligence agencies escalated violence.
The Ministry report went on to say
that Pakistani troops all along the Line of Control (LoC) continued to
provide logistic support to militant groups infiltrating into India with
the objective of enhancing their capabilities to directly confront Indian
security forces and key installations.
The report termed Pakistan's announcement
of maximum restraint along the LoC as "clearly self serving" saying this
did not address New Delhi's concern relating to Islamabad's continued sponsorship
of cross border terrorism. (PTI)
