The Hindu : National : “No third-party mediation”

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Thursday, Nov 27, 2008
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“No third-party mediation”

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: India has made it clear that the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir is a bilateral issue with Pakistan and third-party mediation is not welcome. Speaking to journalists after talks between Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Pakistani counterpart Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, both sides were hopeful of the Indian cricket team’s tour to Pakistan, overcoming security concerns.

“Jammu & Kashmir is essentially a bilateral issue and we will resolve it through dialogue. It is part of the composite dialogue. There is no question of intervention by any side,” observed Mr. Mukherjee when asked about reports of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama planning to name the former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, a special envoy on Kashmir.

The focus of the meeting between the Foreign Ministers appeared to be on increasing trade, with Mr. Mukherjee in his opening statement listing the several proposals. He admitted that there were some teething problems and bottlenecks and wanted effective steps taken on the ground to address them.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of Pakistan focussing on bulk exports to India in order to pare the trade deficit. But, as Mr. Mukherjee pointed out, every country cannot have trade surplus.

On the river waters issue, Mr. Mukherjee pointed out that the entire basin received less water this season and denied that India was refusing to part with Pakistan’s legitimate share. Both Ministers put their faith in meetings of technical experts to resolve the issue.

Mr. Qureshi hoped that the Indian cricket team would come to Pakistan in January and gave the assurance that Islamabad would address all security concerns. Mr. Qureshi, in his opening statement, called upon the biggest democracy in the world to be supportive of the democratic dispensation in his country and termed both countries victims of terrorism. He repeatedly said Pakistan was approaching India with a positive frame of mind to “add a new leaf” to their ties after six decades of acrimony.

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