The Hindu : Front Page : India, Pakistan to discuss Siachen

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Sunday, Feb 03, 2008
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India, Pakistan to discuss Siachen

T. Ramakrishnan

Pakistan High Commissioner Shahib Malik

CHENNAI: Defence Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in April in Pakistan to discuss the Siachen issue, according to Pakistan High Commissioner Shahib Malik.

Pointing out that the two sides had come close to “discussing possible solutions,” Mr. Malik told journalists at The Hindu on Saturday that “we feel that Siachen is doable. It can be resolved. A certain formula has been given to the Indian side which should take care of Indian concerns. The question was raised about authenticating the present Indian position of Indian troops at a particular point. So, we have given a certain formula which, we feel, should take care of the concerns.”

Expressing the hope for an early resolution of the problem, he said a political push was required to sort out the issue. On the composite dialogue process, the High Commissioner indicated that the Foreign Secretaries would meet in Islamabad in March to review the progress made in the previous round of discussions. So far, four rounds had taken place, including the one last year. The fifth round would be launched once the review meeting was held. The dates had not yet been finalised for the meeting.

Noting that there were eight committees, of which two were at the level of the Foreign Secretaries handling issues concerning Kashmir and its security, he said six other secretary-level committees covered culture, commerce, defence, water and power. A number of problems were discussed regularly.

Combating terror

As for the bilateral anti-terror working group constituted following the discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pervez Musharraf in September 2006 in Havana, Mr. Malik said two meetings had taken place so far. Both sides had exchanged ideas.

Pointing out that there was a “tremendous improvement” in the bilateral ties in the last three to four years, Mr. Malik, who served earlier in India as Deputy High Commissioner during 1992-97, recalled that there was a time when the two sides were not talking to each other. “Today, we at least sit across the table. Even if we agree to disagree, that is an improvement over the situation that was about 10 years ago.”

Referring to the growth in cement imports from Pakistan to India, he said it was “one big positive” that had come out of the improvement of relations. The meeting of the Commerce Secretaries in July last discussed “procedural difficulties” faced by Pakistan cement producers and decided that a third country certification of the quality of cement would be acceptable to India. Normally, it was the Bureau of Indian Standards that had to certify cement that could be used in India.

“Easing problems”

The decision had “eased a lot of problems” for Pakistan. Also, a mechanism was being worked out to dispense with the certification process of BIS. Instead a certification of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority would suffice.

Mr. Malik emphasised that for the sustainability of economic relations, it was important to overcome all the problems including political issues. On the issues of terrorism and extremism concerning Pakistan, he said it was in the interests of his country to check the elements that gave rise to terrorism and extremism. He also described as “good and encouraging,” the statements made by Indian leaders that a safe, stable and secure Pakistan was in India’s interests.

He added that his country’s nuclear assets were under the “multi-layered protection” system and there was no need to worry that they would fall into wrong hands.

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