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Indo Pakistan Foreign Ministers Talks – Running While
Standing
Indo Pakistan Foreign Minister talks
were highlight of the month though these could be best described as, “running
while standing,” or without a positive momentum towards resolution of major
issues. To recount, the Minister of
External Affairs of India, S.M. Krishna
and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar met in New Delhi on
July 27, 2011. The Ministerial level
talks were preceded by a meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of India and
Pakistan on July 26, 2011. The Ministers
reviewed the status of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction on
holding of meetings on issues of Counter-Terrorism (including progress on
Mumbai trial) and Narcotics Control; Humanitarian issues; Commercial &
Economic cooperation; Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project; Sir Creek;
Siachen; Peace & Security including CBMs; Jammu & Kashmir; and
promotion of friendly exchanges.
The overall mood was possibly expressed
by India’s External Affairs Minister thus, “we have reaffirmed our commitment
to resolve all outstanding issues through a comprehensive, serious and
sustained dialogue”. Some concrete progress no doubt was made and here is
recounting some important facets of the visit as indicated in the Joint
Statement. Firstly meetings of Expert Groups on Nuclear and Conventional CBMs
are expected in Islamabad in September 2011. This should lead to confidence
building in this essential arena particularly in the light of recent Pakistani
moves to test tactical missile Nasr and reports of increase in the number of nuclear
warheads in its arsenal.
The process of release of prisoners and
fishermen from both sides will continue. The recommendations of the Judicial
Committee on Prisoners regarding (a) early repatriation of the prisoners who
have completed their sentences and whose travel documents are available; (b)
adoption of a humane approach in dealing with cases of fishermen, women,
elderly, juvenile prisoners, prisoners terminally ill or suffering from serious
illness or physical / mental disability and (c) need to monitor the welfare of
prisoners in order to ensure their humane treatment are under consideration. Importance
of early establishment of a non-discriminatory trade regime between the two
countries, including reduction/removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, need
for facilitating trade and redressing trade imbalance.
Cross-LoC trade and travel facilitation
for Jammu & Kashmir are to get a fillip with focus on list of 21 products
of permissible items for Cross-LoC trade to be respected by both sides. The
Working Group will review the trading list with a view to further specifying
permissible items to facilitate intra-Jammu &Kashmir Cross-LoC trade. Both
sides will provide adequate facilities at the trade facilitation centres on
each side. The number of trading days stands enhanced from 2 to 4 days per
week. Truck movements shall take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and
Fridays, both on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes.
Cross-LoC travel would be expanded on both
sides of the LoC to include visits for tourism and religious pilgrimage. The
Cross-LoC bus service between Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot routes
will henceforth run on every Monday. Application forms and requisite
documentation in respect of travel across LoC will be exchanged by email
between Designated Authorities of both sides. Such email transfer of
application forms will be backed up by hard copies. The processing time for
applications shall not be more than 45 days.
The challenge however came on two
issues, lack of progress on counter terrorism and the meeting that Ms Khar had with
separatist Hurriyat leaders. This invited rancor across the board. The External
Affairs Minister Mr Krishna flagged the same during talks. The Leader of the
Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and NDA Working President L K Advani expressed
their unhappiness. "This is her first visit to the country and she met the
separatists. This is not right. Her meeting is unacceptable to us," BJP
spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
The BJP was also unhappy with the slow progress
of trials on the Mumbai 26/11. "The progress in this trial is practically
nil. Four presiding judges have already been transferred and the fifth judge
has joined recently. Three prosecutors have also been changed and out of 100
named witnesses till date only one has been examined," the party said.
"In the absence of any worthwhile progress on this other CBMs have not
much relevance. She [Mrs Sushma Swaraj] hoped that Pakistan would act against
the accused terrorists speedily and without fail," the Party’s statement
said.
The BJP’s dissatisfaction and
general disappointment on lack of progress on terrorism also led the Ministry
of External Affairs to issue a supplementary explanation on the Joint Statement
thus, “We categorically reject inferences that there was any expression of
satisfaction on “the progress on Mumbai trial”. The statement then attempted to
identify steps taken to push Pakistan on Mumbai 26/11 identifying this as the
subject of Home Secretary level talks (as announced on February 10, 2011 in the
Agreed Outcome of the Foreign Secretary level talks held on February 6, 2011 in
Thimphu). The statement went on to add that External Affairs Minister
emphasized the same in his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on July 27,
2011 in New Delhi. This issue was also the focus of the Home Secretary level
talks on March 28-29, 2011 in New Delhi and was also taken up vigorously at the
Foreign Secretary level talks on June 23-24, 2011 in Islamabad and on July 26,
2011 in New Delhi. [Based on MEA India Press Release]. Clearly the Indian
diplomatic establishment is on a weak wicket for not pushing the other side on
terrorism.
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