Tone of Indo-Pak charges becomes less strident

The tone is less shrill now, and the shouted charges have been replaced by low voiced exchanges across the negotiating table between the delegations of the two countries. Three days of discussions between the home secretaries of India and Pakistan in New Delhi last fortnight was followed by a meeting of the defence secretaries in Islamabad. The two foreign secretaries are also scheduled to meet soon.But though high-pitched rhetoric was missing, the intensity of the accusations remained fierce. Well-orchestrated leaks to the press ensured a continuing campaign against Pakistan's support to Punjab's terrorists.Indo-Pak talks in New DelhiEvidence was the key issue at the acerbic meeting between Home Secretary C.G. Somiah and his Pakistani counterpart S.K. Mahmud. The Indian side tabled a 21-page folder titled "Involvement of Pakistan in Terrorism in Punjab", containing detailed maps showing the locations of 33 training camps for terrorists in Pakistan and listed 11 armed intrusions from Pakistan - 10 of them after March 1988. "I made it very clear to them that we have passed the stage of mere assurances. It is necessary for the Pakistan is to translate their professed good intentions into action," said Somiah. Pakistan pleaded innocence, but claimed Somiah: "All the evidence we have points to the contrary." The most telling pieces of evidence were:.preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Out of 763 persons killed by terrorists in Punjab between January 1 and April 30, 1988, as many as 311 were killed near the cross-over points on the border used by terrorists: and,Most of the armed intrusions took place within 100 to 200 yards away from the Pakistani border posts and the Rangers lid not tire on the intruders on even one occasion.The Pakistanis too scored a point: not once had the Border Security Force protested to the Ranges about these incidents. "The Indian approach was accusatory, as if intended to play to the gallery. They presented a series of charge-sheets, but not one constructive suggestion," said a Pakistani delegate. At the end of three days, however, the two sides agreed to undertake joint patrols along the border. But there was no agreement on the Indian insistence that the joint patrols undertake hot pursuit of terrorists to their bases."Agreeing in principle to allow foreign military personnel to enter your territory is fraught with tremendous dangers," said a Pakistani diplomat. So Pakistan suggested that if the need for hot pursuit arose, each country's border guards would undertake forays into their own territories. And before the discussions ended, the Pakistani delegation casually handed Somiah a seven-page document listing 21 training camps in India for Pakistani secessionists and a list of 43 "Indian-trained terrorists" apprehended in Pakistan.During three days of discussions in New Delhi last fortnight, Home Secretary C.G. Somiah said that it was time for Pakistan to translate its professed good intentions into action. The stage of mere assurances had passed.The meeting did not achieve much. Doubts were voiced about the effectiveness of joint patrolling. "The difficulty is that if the Pakistanis are involved, then the terrorists will know about, and avoid, the sectors patrolled," said Foreign Secretary K.P.S. Menon. Ironically, bitter memories oil 1971 cast a shadow over the talks because Mahmud, and two deputies - Major General Hakim Qureshi of the Pakistan Rangers and Joint Secretary Khalid Mehmood - had been prisoners of war in India after the liberation of Bangladesh.The two defence secretaries - S.K. Bhatnagar and his Pakistani counterpart I.H. Zaidi - who met in Islamabad a week later agreed to lake steps to prevent the confrontation of the armies at Siachen from reaching a flashpoint. Just as the home secretaries had done, the defence secretaries too agreed to continue the bilateral discussions within a few months.The third and crucial meeting between India's Foreign Secretary Menon and his counterpart Abdus Sattar will formalise an agreement to abjure attacks on each others' nuclear installations, and attempt to marry India's draft for a treaty of peace and friendship with Pakistan's draft for a no war pact. The main hitch is South Block's insistence on a commitment that Pakistan will not give bases to any third country. Pakistan says that where its security is concerned it is not prepared to foreclose any option. And there the matter is likely to remain stalemated, unless the leadership of the two countries decides it is time to emerge from the cold war.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Jun 15, 1988--- ENDS ---

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Tone of Indo-Pak charges becomes less strident

The tone of Indo-Pak charges becomes less strident.

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