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India, Pakistan fail to make any progress on Kashmir

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

With both India and Pakistan reiterating their stated positions on Kashmir, a solution to the problem eluded the two-day foreign secretary-level talks in Islamabad on October 16 and 17.

But according to senior officials in the external affairs ministry, the very fact that Foreign Secretary K Raghunath and his Pakistani counterpart Shamshad Ahmed have agreed to continue the dialogue is 'welcome' and proves that the neighbours are keen to find a solution to the vexatious issue.

In Islamabad, the Indian delegation led by Raghunath rejected the Pakistani attempt to act as a representative of the Kashmiri people. On its part, Pakistan rejected the Indian assertion that it (Islamabad) is actively aiding and abetting cross-border terrorism.

On Islamabad's rejection of the Indian offer of a nuclear no-first-use treaty, the officials said the Pakistanis were apprehensive of New Delhi's refusal to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

As for future prospects for the talks, the officials said: "The important thing is to keep the dialogue going. It is a welcome development that the two neighbours have agreed on various CBMs. We are hopeful that a solution to the Kashmir issue will emerge if they continue the dialogue."

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