NEW DELHI: India refuted a Pakistani claim that it had closed down 31 training camps for separatist Kashmiri militants saying the seizure of arms and ammunition in the valley had increased several times over in the past two months.
Premier Singh conveyed the Indian belief to the visiting United States Senator Alan Cranston during a 30 minute meeting,
Premier Singh told Senator Cranston, an influential member of the U.S. Senate Foreign relations committee, that there was deep concern in India regarding the continuing Pakistani assistance for militants in Kashmir and Punjab.
He also said the Pakistani support to fundamentalist and secessionist activities had shown a sharp increase in the last couple of months.
His, he stressed was the single biggest obstacle to improvement in relations with Pakistan. All the other problems and difficulties were symptoms of this main cause, Singh said.
The U.S Senator was given an updated documentation containing graphic details of Pakistani involvement in sponsoring secessionism in the two Border States, the spokesman said.
Cranston, who also held discussions with India’s home (interior) minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, reportedly said his impression after a visit to Pakistan was that Islamabad’s support to the militants had almost stopped.
If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 13, 1990
