NEW DELHI, Jan 7: India on Saturday appeared to harden its known position on Kashmir’s quest for autonomy and also seemed to snub Pakistan’s suggestion to demilitarize the disputed region.
Press Trust of India quoted a late night briefing by foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna in which he asserted that demilitarization or redeployment of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir was a sovereign decision of New Delhi and could not be dictated by any foreign government.
The news agency said Mr Sarna’s comments came in response to President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s latest suggestion on demilitarization of three districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Such decisions are based on our assessment of the security situation prevailing in any particular part of the country,” Mr Sarna said.
“As long as the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts of the country is adversely affected by the phenomenon of cross-border terrorism and violence perpetrated by Pakistan-based terrorist groups, the government of India will fulfil its responsibility to safeguard lives and security of its citizens,” he added.
According to PTI, Mr Sarna rejected Gen Musharraf’s proposal on self-governance in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the “state already enjoyed autonomy.” Indian leaders had hitherto spoken of limitless autonomy for Kashmir if it did not imply secession from India. The latest comment seemed to reflect a hardening of New Delhi’s policy on the issue.
Other news sources quoted Mr Sarna as dismissing as “utterly baseless” Gen Musharraf’s reported accusation that New Delhi was supporting an insurgency in Balochistan.
“I categorically reject these allegation as utterly baseless, Mr Sarna said in the unusually timed briefing.
New Delhi recently condemned “spiralling violence” in Balochistan and advised Islamabad to use “restraint” in dealing with the Baloch people.
“The government of India has been watching with concern the spiralling violence in Balochistan and the heavy military action, including the use of helicopter gunships and jet fighters by the government of Pakistan to quell it,” Mr Sarna had said on Dec 27.