Comments by Foreign Secretary Mr. Shivshankar Menon at the Joint Press Briefing with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan on March 14, 2007

14/03/2007

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: Thank you very much. Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan has narrated points of agreement. I will confine myself to a few general points. Yesterday, I had the privilege of calling on H.E. Shaukat Aziz, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Foreign Minister Kasuri. In those meeting, I found that there was clear political will on both sides to make all round progress in the composite dialogue and to the process forward towards establishing normal, friendly and good neighbourly relations between our two countries. Both leaders emphasized their commitment to this process. With Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan as he mentioned, we had two good rounds of talks; one yesterday and one today. When we reviewed the third round of talks and where it has brought us, we noted the significant improvement brought in our relations by the dialogue process especially in promoting people to people relations qualitatively better than they have been for a very very long time and that the composite dialogue has proven record of success. The dialogue process has seen implementation of a number of confidence building measures, narrowing of the divergences and the improvements in the understanding of each other positions on the issues which divide us.

We regard CBMs as an integral part of the process of resolving issues and differences and this is our intent to try and resolve all issues that divide us including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. When we reviewed the third round of talks and we also decided to launch the fourth round, we discussed also the two subjects on the Foreign Secretary level that we cover; peace and security including CBMs and the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. We agreed that in the fourth round, we anticipate that considerable progress can be made in all these aspects. During the discussion, I reiterated the emphasis for maintaining an atmosphere free from violence and terror to sustain popular support in India for the dialogue process. We both noted the importance of joint anti-terror mechanism which met last week in Islamabad and reiterated the importance of implementation of the commitments in this regard. On J & K, India and Pakistan are engaged in the most sustained and intensive dialogue that they have ever had. We seek the settlement of all outstanding issues including J & K. With Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, I also discussed the implementation of the existing CBMs and new cross LoC CBMs. We raised the Kargil Skardu route for a bus service and Pakistan side agreed to consider it. We now start looking at the logistics and modalities of operationaling this. We also discussed trade across the Loc.

As the Foreign Secretary mentioned, we have proposed dates for different meetings for the fourth round of composite dialogue between April and July 2007 and this include early meetings on Siachen and Sir Creek. There is one point I would like mention on the Samjhauta Express tragedy which many of our Pakistani friends have mentioned to me in the last two days. Today, we shared with the Pakistani side a list of passport numbers of which the holders remain unidentified. As you know, even today 19 of those who perished remain unidentified and we will be working jointly with the Pakistan side to look through the list of passports numbers and identify who are the holders of the passport numbers. We also would like to make it clear that we have kept the DNA sample of the 19 persons victims of the tragedy who remain unidentified and if there are any relatives or any body who is interested in Pakistan who feels he has information and likes to check, we would like them to contact our High Commission in Islamabad. We have already issued visas to the relatives who wish to visit India. That would help us. We have had fruitful and positive discussion over the last two days which I think has set a stage for a successful fourth round of the composite dialogue. I am grateful to Foreign Secretary for his hospitality and kindness as a host. Pakistan’s high reputation of treating guests has been maintained.

Question: Secretary Menon, you have said that Pakistan and India discussed J & K. India has already discarded one of the four points suggested i.e. the joint management. Would you take us into confidence on counter proposal if at all India has suggested to Pakistan on this question. Secondly, any modus operandi were discussed about the anti-terror mechanism?

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: I am surprised. I think the mandate of the mechanism which was laid down clearly by the leaders of both our countries in Havana was very clear. It said they decided to put in place India Pakistan institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter terrorism initiatives and investigations. The meeting of the joint anti-terror mechanism last week also issued a joint statement which also said that they agreed that specific information will be exchanged through the mechanism for helping investigation on either side relating to terrorist acts and prevention of violence and terrorist acts in the two countries. So I am not quite sure why there is any doubt. This is joint mechanism and terrorism is an enemy for both us all. I hope that we can make this mechanism productive and enable to implement its mandate. There can be nothing more authoritative than our leaders have said.

On the larger question that you have raised about discussion on J & K, I do not think this is a place to reiterate all the ideas that are on the table, I think the important things is that we are engaged in intensive dialogue and this is our intention to bring this dialogue to successful conclusion. To get into detail of this proposal of that or this idea or that, I do not think that contribute to that end.

Question : Question to both of you. Could you confirm if India has given any material on violence in Kashmir in the talks last week here in the anti-terror meeting? There are reports that both sides are close to some agreement on Kashmir?

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: I think discussion should remain confidential by the nature of what we are trying to do. What we are dealing in here is not which is some thing done in the public. Its mandate is quite clear (anti-terror mechanism).

Question: What solution is there on the issue of Siachen. Secondly, when your Minister was here in January, he promised that the issue of Jinnah House will be decided very soon. Has there been any decision on that issue?

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: We are looking at a set of ideas for some time - set of ideas some of which we brought to the table, some of the ideas Pakistan brought to the table. And what we would like to do is, to hold a meeting of the defence secretaries and the DGMOs together as early as possible to try and clarify and to see whether we can come to an agreement on Siachen. I think this is an issue which has eluded solution for a very long time. But we are now talking about common set of ideas which we have both brought to the table. But as I said I do not want to say we have accepted they have accepted because ultimately both of us have to agree to a solution. It has to be a our common solution to the problem. We would hold meeting and we have proposed dates and Pakistan side is also keen to hold meeting so let us see. We are hopeful.

We are in the process of locating suitable premises for Pakistan Consulate General in Mumbai. We have located some land on which we think that the Consulate General can be built and which would meet the requirements. Separately, we are looking for housing for them while they build. We have shown some properties but they have not met the needs of the Consulate General. We hope to find the solution to the problem. Jinnah House itself, I think as if now there are other issues related to it. We would like to make use of the House which takes into account the sentiments of all the people of the sub-continent because he was the citizen of sub-continent too. So I think we will find a solution which works for all of us and that is what the Minister meant.

Question: The question for both the Secretaries. There are reports that India has rejected demilitarization. What is your count on that?

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: Demilitarization in generic sense is an idea which many people feel is a good idea. But from the Government of India point of view, it is the function of the situation on the ground, on the level of threats and violence that exist there. And that is where we as a Government with the responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people, that is angle through which we would approach it.

Question: We keep on receiving complaints of being too slow. Yesterday the meeting was only for three hours and today only for about one hour?

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: (to Foreign Secretary Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan…would you defend the bureaucracy…) I would only say judge us by the results. Three years ago, nobody would have said that we would stand up and speak about our relationship that has come so far. So I think that rather to defend ourselves against this charge, you should congratulate the bureaucracy for having done this. If the bureaucracy have managed this, this is because we have been given clear leadership. And there is clear political will in the leadership on both sides to break out of the pattern of the past. That is not an easy thing. As we have been locked into a relationship for sixty years with issues we are dealing with here. So for me, it is not question of are you too slow to travel. There will be people no matter what you do, will say (that) you are too slow.

Question: There is a disappointment that the committee of jurists on prisoners have not been operationalized today. Secondly, both of you claim of having sustained dialogue in the history on Kashmir. When you are coming up with a solution.

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: On the prisoners, we have exchanged the names of the jurists. Pakistan has given us the names of the retired judges and we have done the same. Within next few months, the committee can meet and start doing its work. Because we are determined to solve this problem because it is a humanitarian problem. And we do not think this is a problem we should be carrying on. This is in our interest to solve this problem as quickly as possible. This determination came in our talks. You have noticed that this is the problem we have addressed every time we have met. We have made some progress in terms of releases, improvement of conditions. There is more to be done and thats why we are very keen that the committee should meet quickly.

You mentioned the visit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visit to Pakistan. He is looking forward to the visit. He has accepted the invitation. We still have to set dates for the visit. From our point of view, we would like very much that it be a productive visit. That have meaningful outcome and move relationship forward. When will we solve the issues that divide us, as soon as possible. That we want and that is what we are trying to do. But I cannot give you the dates. When we have a solution, we will certainly come and tell you.

Question: When are you implementing the verdict of World Bank neutral expert on Baglihar dam?

Foreign Secretary Mr. Menon: We are going ahead with the implementation of the project on the basis of verdict. That is continuing now.