NEW DELHI, Nov 7: The Indian Home Ministry on Sunday alleged that Pakistan was putting pressure on leaders of Kashmir's All Parties Hurriyat Conference-Ansari (APHC)) not to resume talks with New Delhi till Islamabad was involved in it as a "third party".
"There are indications that Pakistan is exerting pressure on Hurriyat leaders, particularly its acting president Maulvi Farooq, not to resume the dialogue with India till Pakistan is also included as a third party," a statement issued by the Home Ministry said. However, the Hurriyat faction leaders have strongly denied the allegation.
The controversial statement came even as Home Minister Shivraj Patil hinted that the government could consider a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir if the situation continues to improve.
It came after Mr Patil on Saturday said that New Delhi would not impose any restriction on the APHC leaders planning to travel to Pakistan provided they go through 'proper method'.
The Indian statement said although the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has announced its commitment to continue the dialogue process in Jammu and Kashmir, "so far Hurriyat leaders have not come forward for talks as they have some genuine difficulties." "There have been attacks on some of the (Hurriyat) leaders, their relatives and institutions, properties belonging to them," said the statement.
It added that it was a well-known fact that Pakistan had been controlling the level of cross-border terrorism and infiltration emanating from its soil. While cross-border infiltration has come down compared to last year, Pakistan has not taken any concrete steps to dismantle the infrastructure and offensive capabilities of terrorist groups operating from its side.
The communication infrastructure across the border and among J&K militants was intact. In other words, Pakistan continued to retain the capability to calibrate the levels of cross-border terrorism and infiltration directed against India, while simultaneously retaining the deniability advantage to ward off international pressure, it said.
