NEW DELHI, July 19: India, playing host to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw for the third time in quick succession on Friday, re-affirmed that it did not propose to make further moves to de-escalate the military standoff with Pakistan until it took steps to permanently stop what it says is a steady flow of cross-border infiltration.
India’s comments came through a foreign ministry spokesperson even as Straw held a series of a wide-ranging meetings with senior officials primarily aimed at nudging New Delhi to resume a dialogue with Islamabad.
In a situation that looks as contrived as it must be difficult to divine, Press Trust of India quoted a senior US official as rejecting a plebiscite in Kashmir in favour of a resolution within the purview of the Simla accord.
Pakistan officials say talks should be meaningful and sincere regardless of their format.
Rejecting Islamabad’s persistent demand for a plebiscite in Kashmir in accordance with the UN resolution, US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca was quoted as saying that Washington favoured the settlement of the problem bilaterally between India and Pakistan in accordance with the Simla accord and hoped the coming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would lead to the resolution of the issue.
India’s stand on the issue on Friday appeared aimed equally at the visit later this month of US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
“Pakistan must take clear and visible steps on the ground to stop infiltration and cross-border terrorism... till then we are not in a position to spell out further de-escalatory steps,” went the official response of the Indian leaders conveyed to Straw.
Straw, who arrived here on Thursday night held lengthy meetings with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra on Friday afternoon.
Sinha and Mishra drew Straw’s attention to the killings of 29 innocent people near Jammu on Saturday night and told him that Islamabad needed to show that it was acting on its commitment to the international community to plug intrusion and trans-border terrorism.
Powell said on Thursday he had much more on his agenda with Pakistan and India than just the current crisis between the two nuclear rivals.
Powell, who heads to South Asia before the end of the month as part of a new wave of visits to the region by foreign diplomats, betrayed signs of frustration at the crisis centring Kashmir, during a radio interview.
“We will certainly have discussions, I’m sure, in both India and Pakistan with respect to the current situation,” said Powell on National Public Radio.
“I also want to talk to the Indians and Pakistanis about the broader US agenda with respect to each of those countries. I want to make sure they understand that we’re working hard to resolve the current tension in the region, but I also want to build on US-Indian relations and US-Pakistan relations, and not have the world just see this relationship in terms of the current crisis.”
Straw who leaves for Islamabad on Saturday told a news conference that though the tension had reduced the situation continued to be difficult.
Evading the question on the message he would be carrying to Pakistan after his talks with Indian leaders, Straw said: “A number of steps are needed to be taken and an end to infiltration is more important.”
“I understand the concerns of India. It is not a question of carrying a message but a process of consultations.”
Straw also announced that the United Kingdom would provide funding of 600,000 pounds for collaboration between scientists of the two countries. Cooperation in the aviation sector was also part of the discussion as there was more demand for direct travel between India and Britain.
Britain has renewed its appeal to release arms dealer Peter Bleach, who is serving a life sentence in the Purulia arms drop case.