NEW DEHLI: Pakistan appears upset over the Indian media coverage of the visit of its special envoy Abdul Sattar during which he was told of India’s concern over Islamabad’s involvement in the developments in the strategic state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Shortly before leaving for Lahore after a four-day stay here, Sattar called on Indian foreign secretary Shailendra Kumar Singh. He had earlier met Prime Minister and external affairs minister.
Sattar complained to the foreign secretary about the “disappointing” coverage in the Indian media of his visit, a Pakistan high commission spokesman told Delhi-based foreign correspondents at a briefing.
The spokesman, who declined to talk to Indian journalists on the subject, told foreign correspondents that Sattar felt that India’s concern over Kashmir was “exaggerated” by the media here.
According to the spokesman, Sattar noted that Pakistan was being blamed for problems in India in areas close to the Indo-Pak border.
As far as the present situation in Jammu and Kashmir was concerned, Pakistan said it believed the situation was intrinsic and rooted in Kashmir itself, he said
The spokesman characterized Sattar’s visit as “extremely productive.”
“We could not have hoped for anything better. The special envoy came here to gauge the mood (of the new government) and this is the mood,” he said.
“We do not feel that India’s reference to Kashmir in any way dilutes the message of friendship,” the Pakistan high commission spokesman stressed.
An external affairs ministry spokesman said at his press briefing on Wednesday that the Prime Minister indicated to Sattar “our concern at certain in developments that have come to our knowledge regarding Jammu and Kashmir.”
Article extracted from this publication >> January 19, 1990
