ISLAMABAD, June 21: The current Pakistan-India crisis with particular reference to the resolution of core issue of Kashmir will be discussed at the Group of Eight summit scheduled to be held in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 27-28, a diplomatic source told Dawn.
The present military standoff between the two nations is a source of serious concern for the international community and the issue is expected to figure prominently in discussion at the G-8 Summit in Rockies resort of Canada, the source added.
Japan, being the only country in the world which has experienced the nuclear holocaust, is expected to raise the issue of lingering tensions between Pakistan and India and the imminent danger of a nuclear conflict in the region, the source said.
Diplomatic community here seems convinced that President Musharraf has fulfilled its promise to check infiltration into occupied Kashmir, which too has been acknowledged by Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes in a recent statement.
However, the measures taken by Indian government to de-escalate the tension, including resumption of overflight facility, were being viewed as inadequate having no impact on the ground situation where a million troops are still massed on the borders.
The recent clash on the international borders and violation of Pakistan’s airspace by a spy plane are the incidents which caused serious alarm in the world capitals as the international community is convinced that any such incident could trigger an allout war between the two countries.
“The threat of a nuclear war will remain there as long as the forces are at the borders,” the source said, adding that the situation could not be defused without withdrawal of troops to peace-time locations.
A view is fast emerging among the major international players that more pressure should be exerted on India to bring it on negotiating table.
The adamant attitude of the Indian government towards holding talks on the Kashmir issue either on bilateral level or through third-party mediation has also made international community a bit wary, the source said.
“It is quite illogical, India either has to accept bilateral talks or should accept third-party mediation,” the source added.
Indian refusal to accept international monitors at the Line of Control or deployment of UN observers was also not acceptable for the world community, he added.
Referring to Almaty conference, he maintained, Pakistan had shown a flexible attitude and was open to all proposals aimed at resolving issues including Kashmir but the Indians had remained obstinate.