November 5, 2003	Wednesday	Ramazan 9, 1424

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WASHINGTON, Nov 4: In a policy paper distributed on Tuesday among Washington’s policy planners and think-tanks, Pakistan notes with satisfaction that India appears willing to hold talks on some of the issues raised earlier by Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

The prime minister had proposed measures for restoring the relationship that existed before December 2001 when Indo-Pakistan ties hit a new low.

“This, however, is a limited objective. Pakistan calls upon India to resume dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues, especially the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” the policy paper says.

Pakistan also welcomes India’s response to the proposal made by the foreign secretary on Oct 29, though it remains partial and once again tries to exclude core issues, it says.

It urges India to reconsider and respond positively to the proposals made by Pakistan to promote confidence between the two countries and facilitate greater people-to-people contacts, including between Kashmiris.

The paper notes that India is now predicating greater people-to-people contacts, including resumption of Samjhota Express and introduction of Lahore-Amritsar bus service, on the resumption of air links.

Pakistan, it says, has already indicated its willingness to attend the second round of civil aviation talks in New Delhi from Dec 1-2. However, it observes that making progress on air links a precondition for movement on other fronts, “signals hesitancy and negative mindset.”

“Similarly, India should not misconstrue steps proposed by Pakistan for the welfare of the Kashmiris as well as modalities for Srinagar-Muazaffarabad bus service. If India is serious it should not obstruct steps that may provide some relief to the Kashmiris trapped in a tragic situation,” the paper says.

Pakistan’s offer, it explains, was motivated by a genuine desire to alleviate the sufferings of the Kashmiris who under Indian occupation have been denied their basic rights of health, education and remain a constant target of Indian repression.

Pakistan’s offer to the Kashmiris, the paper says, was in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. “Kashmir is certainly not a particular region of India as stated by the Indian spokesman. Such claims defy the UN Charter and the international law,” the paper warns.

A genuine peace process, the paper says, would require an immediate resumption of a meaningful dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and other issues. India should not stall the momentum towards abatement of tension by its refusal to resume a composite dialogue and by making baseless allegations. Indian government would be well advised to delink its relations with Pakistan from its domestic politics.