ISLAMABAD: India told Pakistan that its continued assistance to subversion in the strategic Border States of Kashmir and Punjab clearly violated the Shimla agreement PTI reports.
Indian foreign secretary Muchkund Dubey who called on Pakistan President Ghulam Ishaq Khan said the situation created by Pakistan’s unhindered aid to secessionists in the Kashmir valley was the core issue that needed urgent tackling.
Dubey who was with Ishaq Khan for about half an hour also made clear to Pakistan that the communal situation in India was its internal affair. It was a matter of deep regret that it was being projected in Pakistan in an exaggerated and inaccurate manner.
Pakistan dailies here had published misleading reports about the bombing of the Taj Mahal and attack on the house of cricket captain Azharuddin recently.
Reiterating Pakistan’s stand on the Kashmir issue president Ishaq Khan expressed anguish over the Situation in Kashmir an official release circulated by the Pakistan government here said.
Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to establish good neighborly relations with India saying that it required a constructive response from the other side.
Earlier the Indian and Pakistani delegations led by Dubey and the Pakistan foreign secretary Shahrayar Mohammad Khan opened the third round of talks aimed at easing the tension between the two countries.
The session which lasted over three hours covered the entire gamut of issues affecting bilateral relations.
During the talks India maintained its stand on the Kashmir issue and Ayodhya dispute and asked Pakistan to desist from interfering in India’s internal affairs
The talks were held in a sober and friendly atmosphere with both Sides explaining their points of view on various issues including the confidence building measures proposed by India.
Besides Dubey the Indian delegation comprises high commissioner J N Dixit joint secretary in the external affairs ministry Naresh Dayal deputy secretary Arun Singh deputy high commissioner Rangachari and Rakesh Sood first secretary (political) Dubey also called on Pakistan foreign minister Sahabzada Yaqoub Khan. Later in the day he met the US Ambassador to Pakistan Robert B. Oakley for some 50 minutes at the Indian high commission. Dubey called on Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif recently before returning to New Delhi.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 4, 1991
