May 23, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10,1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 22: Finally weeks after heightened tension between Pakistan and India after the Jammu killing, Pakistan’s diplomatic activity has picked up some steam. Tensions between India and Pakistan have assumed alarming proportions especially since the start of unprovoked firing across the Line of Control by India last week.

On Tuesday some 60-plus diplomats, including the deputy High Commissioner of India, came to the Foreign office to attend a briefing on protocol and administrative matters.

A couple of envoys are briefed at the Foreign Office on the border situation every day as part of the strategy to tap diplomatic channels to reduce tension in the region.

Following the government’s line the Foreign Office is trying to maintain a fine balancing act by trying not to create panic internally but at the same time giving a clear signal of preparedness externally. It is keeping its diplomacy at a low- key. The message is firm on Kashmir and on terrorism while the tone is soft. At home a war hysteria has to be prevented for political and economic reasons.

The Foreign Office spokesman told reporters on Monday at the weekly Press briefing that Pakistan had called upon the international community to intensify efforts at this critical juncture to defuse tension between the two nuclear rivals that could lead to a war.

He said diplomats were being apprised of the latest developments resulting in a volatile situation along the eastern borders. The message for them is to urge India to withdraw its forces from the border with Pakistan and come to the negotiating table. To resolve the outstanding issues through dialogue.

Currently Washington is working this issue through phone diplomacy so things don’t go on hold till the US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage’s peace mission to the region next month. Phone diplomacy has reportedly included more than a couple of calls between Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Pervez Musharraf and between Powell and Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in the last one week.