ISLAMABAD,
May 25 (IslamOnline.net) - Pakistan rejected on Sunday, May 25, an
Indian offer of intelligence sharing as part of “joint mechanism” to
monitor the disputed Kashmir border to control flow of militants towards
the Indian Kashmir.
“Best
mechanism to monitor the border is through international observers,”
Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri told
reporters in Islamabad in response to the offer made by his Indian
counterpart Yashwant Sinha on Saturday, May 24.
The
Indian foreign minister had proposed through a press statement that the
two arch rival countries should work out a joint mechanism to share
intelligence on the movement of militants who India alleged cross border
to the Indian Kashmir to fight against the Indian military.
“The
terrorists move around Pakistan, go into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and
then cross over to this side. It is not possible that there is no
knowledge about their activities,” Sinha was quoted as saying by the
Indian media.
He
said if Pakistan shared this knowledge with Pakistan, it would be easy
to stop so called cross border infiltration.
Not
Workable
 |
|
The
Indian foreign minister had proposed that the 2 countries should
work out a joint mechanism to share intelligence on the movement
of militants
|
But
Pakistani Foreign Minister said the Indian proposal was not workable.
"Theoretically,
everything is possible, but practically, the confidence, trust and
mutual understanding of each other is imperative, which could only be
achieved through dialogue," Kasuri told reporters.
He
said that Pakistan has already proposed a secure, practical and credible
mechanism to monitor the controversial borders through the appointment
of neutral observers at the borders.
United
Nations Military Observes has presence at the Line of Control (LOC), the
Kashmir border between India and Pakistan, but they only have a limited
mandate.
“Strength
and mandate of this group can be increased to verify Indian claims,”
Kasuri said.
Kasuri
added the only way to have confidence, trust and mutual understanding
was through dialogue.
“We
can move forward through dialogue and achieve practically what is
theoretically possible at the moment,” he added.
Despite
several peace overtures from both sides over the last few weeks, India
has maintained that dialogue with Pakistan was not possible until
militants movement over the LOC to Indian territory comes to a halt.
However,
some analysts view this latest proposal by India as a step to
“localize” the Kashmir issues whereas Pakistani counter proposal was
aimed at giving the Kashmir dispute more international outlook.
“Exchange
of views on this proposal is basically renewal of the traditional stand
from both sides,” Sohail Nasir, a defense analyst and writer on
strategic issues, told IslamOnline.net.
By
proposing intelligence sharing or joint patrolling of the LOC, India
wanted to communicate to the world that Kashmir is a local problem
between the two neighbors whereas Pakistan wants to bring U.N. in to
give it a more internationalized face.
“These
are not serious proposals aimed at the resolution of the core dispute of
Kashmir,” Nasir added.
