Roundup: Indo-Pak Tensions Reduced, Fighting Goes On

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 13, 2002

Roundup: Indo-Pak Tensions Reduced, Fighting Goes On

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India Wednesday said "understandings" have been reached with United States on how to deal with some of the immediate problems to help create better atmosphere in the sub-continent as Washington appreciated "constructive steps" taken to reduce Indo-Pak tensions.

After 90 minutes of wide ranging discussions with visiting U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Defence Minister George Fernandes told reporters, "The discussions we have and the understandings reached on how to deal with some of the immediate problems we are facing bring their fruit and it will help in creating better atmosphere in the sub-continent."

Rumsfeld, the highest ranking U.S. official to visit the sub- continent since the Indo-Pak border standoff, said that U.S. President George Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell were anxious to see that tension between India and Pakistan was lowered.

He added the United States appreciated the "constructive steps" taken by India to reduce Indo-Pak tensions.

"We feel that there are steps being taken which are constructive," he said, adding "The leadership in India has demonstrated their concern and interest in seeing that things are resolved in an appropriate way."

Meanwhile, the Government of Pakistan on Wednesday called upon the Indian Government to agree to the immediate resumption of a serious and result-oriented dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute and the return of forces to their peace-time locations, instead of gestures which carry little substance.

"In a situation where the Indian forces massed on Pakistan's borders in a dangerous posture of confrontation, the Indian decisions do not address the main causes of tension," a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

However, the statement said the government of Pakistan has taken note of the decisions conveyed by the Indian government to the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi.

On June 10, India told the Pakistan high commission that it had decided to move its naval ships back from the patrolling in the Arabian Sea. It had also proposed to appoint Harsh Kumar Bhasin as India's high commissioner to Pakistan.

India recalled its High Commissioner to Pakistan Vijay Nambiar following the December 13 terrorist attack on Indian Parliament. On May 18, it expelled the Pakistan High Commissioner.

At the same time, India also proposed to lift the ban on the use of Indian air space by Pakistan International Airlines. It announced that with immediate effect it was lifting the ban on overflights by Pakistani aircraft, a restriction it imposed on January 1 this year in a punitive move to cut down on movement between the two countries.

"We trust that the Indian government will soon announce further steps leading to the resumption of a meaningful dialogue on disputes between the two countries, especially the core issue of Kashmir," the statement said.

The statement also said the government of Pakistan has noted with grave concern that the Indian government has intensified repression in Kashmir.

Rumsfeld arrived in New Delhi Tuesday and left for Pakistan Wednesday.

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