Indian Prime Minister stresses on peace process with Pakistan and iron hand for terrorists and militants – but how much really has been achieved?
Sunil Chatterjee
Aug. 15, 2005

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said peace talks with Pakistan over Kashmir have achieved "some success", while warning that security forces will deal with armed insurgents in Kashmir with an "iron hand".

But in reality little has been achieved by the UPA Government. Pakistan peace process is on and Manmohan Government is ready to talk with Kashmiri separatists. But if we look at the whole scenario, very little has been achieved in Kashmir. The militancy is growing and Pakistan’s occasional rhetoric is also growing.

Recently Musharraf said no halt in supporting Kashmir terrorism without resolution in Kashmir. What resolution does Pakistan expect in Kashmir other than status quo. India is not going give an inch of land to Pakistan! So ewhat are they expecting?

According to media sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said peace talks with Pakistan over Kashmir have achieved "some success", while warning that security forces will deal with armed insurgents in Kashmir with an "iron hand".

"There seems to be some success in our search for peace and harmony now," Singh said in a speech on the 58th anniversary of India's independence.

"The composite dialogue process with Pakistan is continuing," he said of peace talks which began in January 2004 and aim to resolve all differences, including the festering dispute over Kashmir.

"As a result, we have been able to reopen the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway which was a long-pending demand of the people and restarted the bus service on this route, a step which has been widely welcomed.

"Talks are also going on to open similar links from points in other states," the prime minister said of the first bus service in 50 years between the two divided zones of Kashmir which began in April.

The comments came less than a week after India and Pakistan agreed to give each other advance notice of the testing of ballistic missiles and to set up a hotline to prevent an accidental nuclear conflict.

Singh also said talks with Pakistan on the import of natural gas from Iranian oilfields are progressing well.

"Discussions are also going on on a gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan. Once this is completed, we will be able to address a major constraint affecting our economy," he said.

The prime minister, however, urged Pakistan to end its alleged support for militancy in Kashmir.

"The government of Pakistan has placed some restrictions on the insurgents but success does not come through half-measures and it is important the terror infrastructure is dismantled (by Pakistan) from its roots," Singh said.

The prime minister said India is open to talks with all parties involved in the Kashmir conflict but will not tolerate violence.

"I have said earlier and I repeat again that there is no issue which cannot be resolved through talks," he said in his 90-minute address.

"Our doors are always open and will continue to be open for anyone interested in dialogue and I invite everyone to join us to discuss the problems of Jammu and Kashmir so that its people can lead a life of peace and dignity."

New Delhi has earlier said negotiations were possible with separatists provided they first laid down their arms.

"But if violence continues, then our security forces will reply with an iron hand," he warned.

"In this conflict, there may be some civilian casualties but we are determined to restore normality," he said as a blast shook a stadium in Kashmir's summer capital of Srinagar just before the start of Independence Day celebrations there.

Police said there was no damage and no casualties.

Security forces have turned New Delhi into a virtual fortress and put its airports and other key installations temporarily out of bounds to civilians. Flights were suspended for about 90 minutes during the main celebration.

MORE ARTICLES >>