India Rules Out Early Resumption of Talks With Pakistan

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

India Rules Out Early Resumption of Talks With Pakistan

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Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah Thursday ruled out early resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, saying talks would take place only after militant training camps were closed and "cross-border terrorism" stopped.

"There is no way other than talks to resolve outstanding issuesbetween India and Pakistan, but for that Islamabad has to translate its promises into action," Abdullah told reporters at the headquarters of the National Conference in Srinagar, Kashmir.

"The de-escalation on the borders can only start after the militant training camps on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) are closed," the minister said.

He dismissed a suggestion that the reported presence of al-Qaeda operatives near Line of Control was a prelude to stationing of American troops on the LoC, saying "our troops are capable of doing the job well."

The minister said, "Pakistan has denounced terrorism and promised to stop aiding and abetting militancy in Kashmir. However,promises have to be translated into action."

Defending the diplomatic efforts, he said India's viewpoint hasreceived support from the international community which has asked Islamabad to stop "cross-border terrorism."

Abdullah termed as "positive" U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's acknowledgement that al-Qaeda militants were present near the LoC.

On the role of the international community in the present crisis, he said it wanted to avoid a war between India and Pakistan but accepted Kashmir as a bilateral issue.

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