India works to normalize ties with Pakistan

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 23, 2003

India works to normalize ties with Pakistan

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

India Wednesday unveiled major proposals to normalize relations with longtime rival Pakistan, including the resumption of air and rail links and running buses between the major cities of disputed Kashmir.

Earlier in the day, the government also agreed for the first time to meet members of the separatist movement in India's portion of Kashmir, the Himalayan territory divided between the two South Asian rivals and a flashpoint for two of their past wars.

There was no immediate reaction from Pakistan.

Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha emphasized, however, that the "war against terrorism" will continue against the Islamic militants who are fighting against Indian control in Kashmir.

Sinha told reporters New Delhi had already informed Islamabad of the string of proposals.

In a stunning news conference that caught most political observers off guard, Sinha also said India had proposed a new bus service linking the capitals of Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir - a major demand by Kashmiri families who have been divided for decades.

It is also India's hope to resume bilateral sporting events, including cricket, and will now allow individual senior citizens the right to cross the border on foot. Until now, only groups have been allowed to cross the border on foot, or by bus. Sinha also said the two countries should stop arresting one another's fishermen at sea.

Sinha said New Delhi must push forward with normalizing relations with its longtime nuclear rival, despite the continued attacks by suspected Islamic militants in Kashmir.

The militants have been fighting for independence or merger with Pakistan since 1989.

India has long accused Pakistan of maintaining rebel training camps on its territory and helping to arm and sneak them across the Line of Control that divides Kashmir.

"We have no evidence that helps us reach the conclusion that infiltration has reduced or that there is an effort to stop it," Sinha said, adding Kashmir was not the core issue for dialogue.

Sinha says the steps are "part of that normalization process" that began before the December 2001 attack on India's parliament complex, in which 14 people were killed.

Since Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced that he would try one more time to make peace with Pakistan, the two governments have taken small steps to restore their relations.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Pakistan to encourage ceasefire with India: Musharraf

Pakistan regrets India's rejection of Musharraf's peace move

High-speed rail from Shanghai to Beijing reconsidered ( 3 Messages)

China's central bank governor on exchange rate of RMB ( 3 Messages)

Japan to pay China 300m yen for lethal gas leak incident ( 4 Messages)

Chinese, US presidents to meet in Bangkok ( 21 Messages)

Bush: China's manned space mission is not a threat ( 5 Messages)