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ALMATY, June 5: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Wednesday offered joint patrols with Pakistan along Line of Control (LoC), which is at the centre of a dangerous military standoff between the two countries.
“If Pakistan decides that it will not support infiltration then both countries can set up a joint patrolling mechanism. This proposal can be considered,” the Indian premier told a press briefing here few hours before departing for New Delhi after a four-day visit to Kazakhstan
“For verification India and Pakistan can have an agreement of joint patrolling”, he said.
Vajpayee said New Delhi did not think it necessary to involve a third country to verify that infiltration had stopped as claimed by Gen Musharraf.
Vajpayee said India and Pakistan had earlier in 1989 accepted the proposal of joint patrolling. Both countries can agree for it once again.
“Infiltration from India is out of question. Insurgents are coming from Pakistan. If they are serious about stopping it, India is ready for joint patrolling to stop infiltration,” the Indian prime minister said.
“Musharraf has said there is no infiltration. Our information is that infiltration is continuing and there are terrorist training camps across the border,” Vajpayee said.
“It is reported that there are 3,000 infiltrators ready to come in. We have been emphasizing that words are not enough from Pakistan on the issue of infiltration. Verification has to be made on the ground,” Vajpayee said.
The Indian prime minister, however, ruled out de-escalation on the borders until Islamabad stopped “cross-border terrorism”.
He said de-escalation would be the last issue to be dealt with. India was ready to consider further steps towards de-escalation on the borders once infiltration ends, terrorist training camps are closed and verification is made of Pakistan’s claims.
TERRORIST LIST: Vajpayee also said that India was ready to consider any list given by Pakistan of terrorists or criminals. His assurance came as a reaction to Gen Musharraf’s comments on Tuesday at a press conference in Almaty that if India could give a list of 20 criminals and terrorists, Pakistan could come up with 40 names.
“President Musharraf did not tell us (about the list of 40) nor did he tell Russian President Vladimir Putin. He, however, told Mr Putin that if there is a list (given by India), Pakistan will consider extradition of terrorists and criminals to India,” Vajpayee said.
The Indian Prime Minister said Pakistan was under tremendous international pressure to stop cross-border terrorism and certain countries were even thinking of stopping aid to Islamabad.
Vajpayee said that because of the border build-up, there was pressure on the Indian economy, but now the economy was looking up and showing signs of revival.
Vajpayee ruled out third-party mediation to resolve the India-Pakistan crisis. “We do not think it necessary. India and Pakistan can find a way out themselves.”
The Indian prime minister said international pressure was playing an important part. If results can be achieved through diplomatic means India will be very satisfied. “We want the situation on the borders to improve and chances of war to recede.”
There was no question of weakness on the Indian part but it was ready for steps to improve relations. “The people of India want terrorism to end, infiltration to end. Remember the Agra summit. Why did it not succeed? Because Pakistan did not agree to stop cross-border terrorism. At least now it is saying that it is ready to stop infiltration.”
More international pressure would have to be brought upon Islamabad if it does not show results on the ground, Vajpayee added.
PEACE TALKS: The Indian prime minister said that atmosphere was “not conducive” for peace talks with Pakistan over Kashmir.
Vajpayee said that “cross-border terrorism” must end before India could begin talks with Pakistan.
“Our stand is clear. We want to resolve all issues through bilateral talks including Kashmir (but) cross-border terrorism must stop before any talks can begin. But with terrorism continuing there is no conducive climate for dialogue,” he said.
Vajpayee said Pakistan must translate into action its promises to crack down on militants and dismantle militant camps on the Pakistani side of the LoC.
“Whether the promises have been translated into action on the ground has to be examined,” Vajpayee said.—Agencies
