We will respond if Pak. shows results on ground: PM
By Atul Aneja
ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN) JUNE 2. After weeks of unabated tension, India today showed the first signs that a thaw in its relations with Pakistan was possible, provided it was convinced that Islamabad genuinely ``intended to curb infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir permanently.
Signalling a freshness in its approach towards Pakistan, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who is in Kazakhstan on a four-day visit, said just prior to his departure from New Delhi that ``in recent days, we have seen some statements by Gen. Musharraf. If we see the result on the ground of Gen. Musharraf's statements, we shall certainly give it our serious consideration''.
Highly-placed Government sources said the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, may have issued orders to the commanders of its 10 Corp, deployed along the Line of Control, to curb infiltration. But signals about the execution of the orders from the ground are ``still confused''.
In his effort to curb terrorism, Gen. Musharraf may encounter difficulties in reining in the cadres of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, but a crackdown on the Lashkar-e-Taiba — another Jehadi organisation — may be easier as it functioned largely under Pakistan's military control, the sources said.
According to the sources, India, if it acquired evidence that Pakistan's intentions about curbing infiltration were serious, would not be averse to establishing a mechanism of phased reduction of tension and confidence-building on a quid pro quo basis.
In case an interlocking process of de-escalation was established, India, after exercising due caution and verification, could look at a phased reduction of forces along the Indo-Pak. border. But ruling out a knee-jerk reaction, sources stressed that a variety of procedures for verification of Pakistani compliance would have to be undertaken before troop reductions could begin.
They said that while establishing a bilateral monitoring arrangement involving the military establishment of India and Pakistan would be ``ideal as it would symbolise the Pakistani military's distancing from terrorism, hoping for such a mechanism in the near future would be unrealistic.''
In case India were to go in for military de-escalation, it was likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir as troops were required there for the conduct of free and fair election in September.
By keeping forces deployed in Kashmir, India would be better positioned to ensure that cross-border terrorists do not disrupt the polls. But a pull-back of forces on the basis of reciprocity in other sectors first was possible. Analysts say the process of phased troop reductions could o include reversal of some of the measures, such as snapping of road and air links and downsizing its mission in Pakistan that India had adopted following the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament, in the future, provided initial steps taken by Islamabad were promising.
Putin, Zemin to help defuse tension
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI JUNE 2. For nearly three weeks a war hysteria has been steadily built up. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, himself spoke of a "decisive battle'' and asked the jawans on the forward lines to be prepared to sacrifice their lives.
Pakistan's High Commissioner here was asked to leave and certain operational orders were given indicating that military conflict was imminent.
The official stance even after Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's May 27 televised address was that he had said nothing new, he had failed to act on promises made in January and that Pakistan continued to be the "epicentre of terrorism'' and signals from Pakistan were "dangerous".
It was also repeatedly emphasised by individual Ministers, the Government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party that "the General was not to be trusted" and this time India must give a "fitting response" to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
But today there was a decided change in stance. It did not go unnoticed that Mr. Vajpayee talked about looking out for "results on the ground" after referring to his recent telephonic talks with the U.S. President, George W. Bush, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
Mr. Vajpayee mentioned that during his Almaty stay he would be meeting the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, to discuss with them India's views on cross-border terrorism, which had led to tensions in the region.
It is expected that both the leaders will try to defuse the tensions and impress upon both India and Pakistan not to precipitate the already dangerous situation which could push the sub-continent into a nuclear holocaust.
A large number of Cabinet Ministers, including the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, and the Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha, were present to see Mr. Vajpayee off.
The Prime Minister said the Almaty summit would be adopting a declaration condemning terrorism
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