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India apologetic, defensive on
Kashmir: Abdullah

Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah and former army chief General V P Malik on Thursday said India had been apologetic and defensive on the Kashmir issue for far too long and did not favour an immediate deescalation of forces on the border.

"We have been apologetic and defensive with regard to Kashmir for far too long. When Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf talks about United Nations resolutions, he does not have a leg to stand on," Abdullah said, participating in Karan Thapar's Line of Fire programme on SAB TV.

He said Pakistan had not fulfilled even the first step of the UN resolution, which provided for the withdrawal of troops from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Rather, they joined parts of PoK into Pakistan," he said.

The UN secretary general had stated in Pakistan that the resolutions of the world body neither apply nor have any relevance to the situation, Abdullah said. "I think it is something we have not used enough."

Former army chief Gen V P Malik, the other participant, said India had been "fairly defensive" in putting across its position on Kashmir.

"There are many things, which ought to be known to the world. There is lack of awareness on those issues," Malik said.

Disfavouring a deescalation of troops on the border as demanded by Pakistan, Abdullah said: "We would like to see the steps (taken by Musharraf) on the ground. Deescalate we will, but as per our own timeframe."

Asked whether New Delhi would begin talking with Islamabad as suggested by the United States, he said: "We are not talking." India would be ready for a dialogue with Pakistan only after visible changes on the ground, handing over of terrorists wanted by India and change in the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir, he affirmed.

On US Secretary of State Colin Powell's suggestion that talks should begin immediately, the minister said: "Perhaps, we do not see the situation that way."

"We did not escalate tensions after asking the US. We have not put this pressure (military build-up) and taken the diplomatic initiative after seeking their concurrence. We will take whatever steps are necessary," Abdullah said.

He said India would continue to maintain a degree of pressure, diplomatic and otherwise, on Pakistan till it sees visible signs of improvement in the situation.

While welcoming Musharraf's recent speech as a "very major step for a Pakistani leader to take", Abdullah said: "Down the years, we have had numerous expressions of intent that have not translated into visible steps on the ground. We want visible steps on the ground."

PTI

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