Cross-LoC trade to be sorted out


Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI, Nov 26: India and Pakistan resolved to address "teething problems" cropped up in the way of continuing the cross-LoC trade. Addressing a joint press interaction after a two-hour long meeting here foreign ministers of India and Pakistan said the issues would be resolved soon at appropriate levels and described cross-LoC trade as a significant CBM, which would not be allowed to go disarray.
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qrueshi who arrived here on a four-day long visit called for creating a positive pitch to play the game of peace and friendship. He, however, could not elicit any commitment from India to provide additional waters as compensation to the receding water levels in river Chinab on account of filling of Baglihar dam.

Qureshi also attempted to alley India's security concerns about its cricket team scheduled to tour Pakistan in next January.
At the two-hour long delegation level and later one-to-one interaction, both the foreign ministers discussed wide-ranging issues and decided to put the bilateral process at a face pace. It was decided to hold meetings of India-Pakistan Joint Commission and complete the meeting eighth technical level working group by the end of this year. The group will recommend decisions and the joint approach on the issue of environment, science and technology, commerce and host of other issues.

Sources, however, said there was no firm commitment by India to compensate Pakistan on the issue of water. Qureshi had raised the issue of decreasing water levels in river Chenab in the wake of the filling of dam of Baglihar power plant. But, Indian External Affairs Minister said water will be made available according to the provisions of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) subject to the availability at the source.
"At the height of tensions and wars, we have never stopped waters to Pakistan and there was no question of decreasing water flow deliberately," he said. He added that such issues crop up between water sharing states and sometimes water is not available at the discharging point. "In current case also water was not available at the source," he added.

Mukherjee, however, said the officers of the two countries would discuss technical matters so that no misunderstanding is created. On the issue of Sir Creek and Siachen, Qureshi said they could be resolved. "They are solvable. By making a movement on these issues, it will change atmosphere in a positive direction in South Asia," he stated.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Mukherjee rejected any third party interference, when asked to comment on the reports that the US president-elect was mooting to appoint Bill Clinton as his emissary to settle Kashmir issue. "There was no question of the intervention of third party. Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. It is part of composite dialogue process," he stressed.
On Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is on a death row in a Pakistani prison, Qureshi said his country was cognizant of Indian concerns. "We are examining the case. Hopefully it meets a positive ending," he said.
On the visit of Indian cricket team next year in January, Mukheree said he hoped the team would go to Pakistan after Qrueshi expressed readiness to address security concerns. ."I hope the cricket team will go and you will enjoy it (tournament)," said Mukherjee. "We will address all your security concerns. People of Pakistan are keen to receive you; so come to Pakistan," Qureshi added. He said people of India and Pakistan love cricket. It's like a thriller. So give us a positive pitch," Qureshi said.

"Indian tennis players are in Pakistan. An Indian shooting team is in Pakistan. We were sorry to have missed the Indian hockey team. We are looking forward to receive you (cricket team)," he said. The Indian hockey team was to visit Pakistan earlier this month but the trip was cancelled due to the security concerns.

[Kashmir Times]

Posted on 27 Nov 2008 by Webmaster