Author: Manoj Joshi
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 26, 2002
India has given Pakistan two weeks
to end cross-border terrorism and begin dismantling training camps in Pakistan
and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. After coining close to acting against these
camps last week, India drew back from the brink after obtaining what an
official termed 'ironclad commitments' from the U.S. and the UK that Pakistan
would act on these demands.
Gen Pervez Musharraf's grumpy comment
on Saturday that he was not impressed with deadlines set by India does
not detract from the commitment made last week by the Pakistani army high
command to the U.S. that the process of ending militant infiltration would
begin immediately According to sources, both countries have told the Pakistanis
that the action would have to be specific, without any room for ambiguity
Early last week, India provided
evidence to the U.S. and the UK that far from closing down the camps, Pakistan
had opened as many as 70 new establishments across PoK where some 3,000
militants belonging to various groups were waiting for a chance to slip
into Kashmir in the coming months. It was following the receipt of this
information that the U.S. initiated its latest moves, which include forthcoming
visits by British foreign minister Jack Straw and U.S. deputy secretary
of state Richard Armitage to the region and the recently concluded mission
by EU commissioner Chris Patten.
Indian officials say that they are
neither optimistic nor pessimistic over what will happen in the coming
weeks. "The Pakistanis have proved to be slippery customers, and not just
for us," said an officer who did not want to be named. "We are clear that
if the Pakistanis do not oblige, we reserve the right to act and we will
be doing so in legitimate self-defence, after having given Pakistan every
chance to mend its ways."
India has assured the U.S. that
if the Pakistanis do indeed end infiltration, India will match it by demobilising
its army and engaging Pakistan in a substantive dialogue on Kashmir.
India accepts that violence will
not cease in the Valley even if the Pakistanis do the needful in the coming
weeks. There are huge arms and ammunition stocks already in the Valley
as well as well-trained and dedicated jihadi cadres. "All it takes to derail
the peace process is a couple of pistols," said an intelligence official
referring to the assassination of Abdul Gani Lone, the Hurriyat leader
who was contemplating participating in the elections. But, he concedes,
"That is a bridge we will cross when we come to it."
