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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| India could consider Kashmir proposals |
| 2004-11-14 |
| NEW DELHI: Indian Foreign Minister Nawtar Singh said on Saturday that New Delhi could consider Pakistan's suggestions for resolving the Kashmir issue if a formal proposal was made. Talking to reporters on his way back from the funeral of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Cairo, he said that India could not consider a proposal made at an iftar dinner or through the media as a formal proposal. He added that if the proposals were made formally, India would consider them. Last month, President Pervez Musharraf floated various ideas on the future of the disputed territory, including demilitarisation, independence, joint governance or some form of UN control. Mr Singh said that the success of the Indo-Pak peace dialogue hinged on the implementation of the pledge by President Musharraf last January to curb infiltration across the Line of Control. He said third-party mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue was completely unacceptable to India. He said that talks would be held with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz during his visit to India after Eid, and the Indian government was looking forward to the meeting. The Indian Directorate General of Military Operations (DGMO) is preparing a schedule of withdrawal of nearly 100,000 troops, likely to begin from next month. Details about the number of personnel to be withdrawn and the safe areas were being identified, sources said. A senior Indian official said troops would be reduced both along the LoC and from the internal security grid. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said infiltration along the LoC had considerably decreased, not thanks to Pakistan, but "despite Pakistan". He said according to his information "militant camps across the border are still operating". "They have not been able to infiltrate in the same numbers as earlier due to our |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Anybody ever tell them about "Peace with the Quaraish"? |
| Posted by: Jurt Thugh6744 2004-11-14 4:55:57 AM |