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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan urges world to make India 'see reason' |
| 2002-05-20 |
| Pakistan called for increased international efforts to make India "see reason" and begin negotiations as war clouds gathered over the two countries. Perhaps Pakland could "see reason" and stamp out the cross-border terrorism originating on its side of the border. That would go a long way toward making India "see reason" and not invade them over it. "We hope the international community will increase further its efforts considering the hostile postures adopted by India and convince India to see reason and come to the negotiating table for discussions and dialogue," said foreign ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan. They only negotiate with domestic lunatics. Asked at a news conference whether he thought war was imminent between the nuclear-armed neighbours, he said he was not in the business of "fortune-telling". Khan's comments came as Indian and Pakistani troops fought a fourth day of artillery duels across the de facto border in the disputed state of Kashmir. The border skirmishes erupted after India blamed Pakistan-based guerrillas for an attack last Tuesday in Jammu, the Kashmiri winter capital, that killed 35 people, mostly wives and children of soldiers. Not being a "fortune teller," he can't quite see the connection between the artillery duels and the dead women and kiddies. At least 10 people have been killed and more than 50 injured on the Pakistani side of the border since Friday, while Indian officials put their own toll at two dead, 23 injured and more than 12,000 people displaced. If war does erupt, it was a set-up by the jihadis, and the contributing factor was Pakland's own stupidity in supporting them. President General Pervez Musharraf has called a meeting Wednesday of his cabinet and the National Security Council (NSC), a top decision-making body, to review the escalation of border tensions. Information Minister Nisar Memon said the president would also consult political leaders "to take the nation into confidence regarding the situation arising out of the recent escalation of tension on the borders". Maybe they should be working out something to defuse the tensions? Wouldn't that make at least a little bit of sense? A government official told AFP that United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage was also due to arrive here early next month. If there's anywhere left to arrive... Armitage's trip closely follows US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca's visit to Pakistan and India last week in search of ways to avert "dangerous confrontation" between rival nuclear neighbours. Her arrival was the occasion for the attack. If hostilities haven't started by the time Armitage arrives, expect another one of at least the same magnitude. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |