NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
P Jayaram in New Delhi
Palestinian Ambassador to India Khalid El-Sheikh says there is no comparison between his people's struggle and the bloody separatist campaign under way in Jammu & Kashmir.
"The Pakistan president is free to say anything, but there is no parallel whatsoever. The Palestinian struggle is unique," Sheikh told the Indo-Asian News Service.
The ambassador was responding to a question about President Pervez Musharraf's remarks during his visit to India in July, comparing what he called the "freedom struggle" in Jammu & Kashmir with the Palestinian struggle.
Sheikh said India's growing ties with Israel, particularly in defence and reported nuclear co-operation, were causing concern among Arab countries because of the impact it would have in West Asia. At the same time, he said, India had the sovereign right to develop bilateral ties with any country.
He also acknowledged that senior Indian officials had denied reports of any cooperation with Israel on the nuclear issue, but said there had been no official statement on the issue.
"When we seek clarification we receive [from Indian officials] denials of such reports. We wish to have a categorical official statement clarifying the position," he said.
"Doubts will remain until a categorical statement is made. A clear public statement by India would help clear these doubts and concerns," he said. "I think till now they have remained that, doubts and concerns. We don't want this to develop into a misunderstanding."
He alleged that Israel was trying "very hard" to take advantage of this situation by creating confusion.
He noted that India had always been a friend of Palestine and the Arab people. "India has always supported the establishment of a Palestinian state and there is no reason to think that there is a change in its position."
He said India had always been a spokesman for Third World causes, "but unfortunately, in the past years, that position has receded.
"India has been a great country and will remain so tomorrow. That is why there is international support for India for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council as a representative of the Third World," he said.
New Delhi, he added, should take care to see that its growing ties with Israel do not jeopardise its position as leader of the Third World.
Indo-Asian News Service
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
