Dawn – Foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar calls for talks with India on Kashmir clashes

New York, 17 January 2013. Pakistan’s foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday called for talks with her Indian counterpart to ease tensions over deadly clashes in the disputed Kashmir region.

The minister said in New York that 10 days of fighting over the unofficial border had “created questions” about relations but added that Pakistan was “open” to dialogue between foreign ministers to end the dispute.

Khar spoke as India’s military said it had reached an “understanding” with Pakistan to “de-escalate” tensions in Kashmir, which has been the cause of two of the three wars between the neighbors since 1947.

Pakistan says three of its troops have died in three incidents since January 6. India says two of its soldiers have been killed, one of them beheaded, in hostilities along the Line of Control (LOC) frontier in the Himalayan region.

Khar, who on Tuesday accused India of “warmongering,” was again critical of “very hostile, negative statements” made by Indian leaders in recent days. She added that there had been a “glaring difference” in the reactions of the two governments.

“Unfortunately this LOC incident has obviously created questions, but we still believe that dialogue must be the means to resolve this or any issue,” Khar said at the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank.

“We will be open to a discussion, a dialogue, at the level of the foreign ministers to be able to resolve the issue of cross-LOC incidents and to re-commit ourselves to the respect for the ceasefire.” Khar added that “Pakistan is fully committed” to a Kashmir ceasefire agreed to in 2003.

The minister told the meeting that the Pakistan government had faced a “backlash” at home to its attempts to improve relations over the past four years.

She added that there are groups on both sides who do not want a peace process. “They will always encourage you to go hard on the rhetoric and ratchet up the tension. Some people find it in their interests. We don’t, so we must not fall prey to that,” Khar said.

“I hope that this will pass,” the minister said, adding that she was still “relatively positive” about prospects for relations between the two countries.

http://dawn.com/2013/01/17/khar-calls-for-talks-with-india-on-kashmir-clashes/

The Tribune – ‘Unwell’ Sharif cancels Punjab visit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 13. Pakistan Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif’s much-awaited visit to Punjab was cancelled today owing to dignitary’s ill-health. Sharif’s Principal Secretary rang up Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s Principal Secretary this morning informing him that Sharif was unable to travel due to backache and that he had been advised rest.

The sudden cancellation of Sharif’s visit has come as a setback for the state government and those organising the event. Observers, including the organisers, feel politics is behind the cancellation of visit.

Sharif’s minute-to-minute programme, including his crossing over at the Wagah border, parade inspection and even what he was to eat, had been finalised after due consultation with the Pakistan Punjab government.

The cancellation caught the state organisers off guard both at Amritsar, where arrangements had been made at the Wagah border, and Chandigarh, from where Public Relations Minister Bikram Singh Majithia was to fly to Amritsar for Sharif’s welcome.

Sources said Sharif had first insisted on returning back to Pakistan by December 16. But after getting an appointment with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, he extended his stay till December 17 and even planned on visiting Nizamuddin Auliya’s ‘dargah’.

Sources said political rivalry between the Pakistan government and the provincial government in Punjab could be one of the reasons behind the cancellation of Sharif’s visit.

They pointed out that Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s visit to India to operationalise the liberalised visa agreement between the two countries had been finalised from December 14 to 16 and would have coincided with Sharif’s visit to India.

The fact that Sharif was able to procure an appointment with the Prime Minister and that Malik’s appointment was yet to be finalised could have also led to friction in Pakistan, where both Rehman and Sharif belong to opposing parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N), respectively. The Pakistan government was wary of Sharif scoring brownie points during his visit to Punjab and Delhi, sources added.

Sources in the Punjab Government said the government would not lose money on account of cancellation of visit.

The three main meals to be hosted in Sharif’s honour were being organised by the PHD Chamber and Rajinder Gupta of Abhishek Industries.

The government had booked helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft but since the aircraft were scheduled to reach Chandigarh this evening, their charter was cancelled immediately.

Sharif was scheduled to lead a 50-member delegation, including 34 business delegates. He was to meet policy-makers and industrialists here tomorrow, besides attending the World Cup Kabaddi final as the chief guest and meeting agricultural scientists and progressive farmers in Ludhiana on December 15. He was scheduled to visit Delhi on December 16 and Amritsar on December 17.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121214/main4.htm

The Tribune – Pakistan minister coming, new visa pact set to be operationalised

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7. A new visa regime between India and Pakistan is set to be operationalised on November 22-23 even as India told its neighbour that infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir was continuing unabated despite assurances by Islamabad.

The visa regime is likely to be operationalised when Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik visits India on November 22-23. Malik had indicated the dates of his visit to India when he met his Indian counterpart, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde as the two met in Rome on the sidelines of the Interpol General Assembly. Rehman could also be visiting Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

Even as the two countries are headed for a new visa regime, Shinde told his Pakistani counterpart that the promises made by Pakistani leaders have not been implemented on the ground while infiltration from across the border to Jammu and Kashmir continues to thrive. Shinde and Malik met on sidelines of the Interpol General Assembly in Rome, official sources said here today.

Promises to check infiltration have not been realised and Islamabad must take immediate action to rectify the situation, Shinde said.

The visa agreement was signed by former Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Malik in Islamabad on September 8. This will ease restrictions on issuing visas to traders, elderly people, tourists, pilgrims, members of civil society and children.

The new Indo-Pak visa pact replaces a 38-year-old visa agreement, paving the way for time-bound visa approval and greater people-to-people contact and trade.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121108/main4.htm

The Asian Age – Pakistan to free ‘missing’ Indian

Pratik Salunke, Asian Age Correspondent

Mumbai, 25 October 2012. t will be a moment of happiness and anxiety for Hansaben Parmar, mother of Bhavesh Parmar (32), who will be released at the Wagah-Attari border on Thursday — six years after he had wandered into Pakistan and was lodged in jail.

Bhavesh, a resident of Vile Parle was arrested in 2007 and was lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore after he was convicted under the Foreigners Act for want of requisite papers. Bhavesh went into depression after the death of his father.

“Since he went missing early January 2007, I have not spoken to him. While I am ecstatic about his release, but I am worried about his mental health,” Hansaben told this newspaper, adding. “I have no idea whether he has received any psychiatric treatment and am deeply concerned about him. I am just hoping that he is fine.”

Hansaben recalls the tragic turn of events in her life that led to Bhavesh going missing in 2007. “After my husband passed away, Bhavesh was depressed and he had left home in a disturbed condition. He also resigned his job in a multi-national company,” said Hansaben who stays alone in her flat at Vile Parle.

Computer professional Bhavesh is believed to have reached Pakistan after he boarded Samjhauta Express. Till 2008, the family was unaware of his whereabouts until the special branch of Mumbai Police notified them that he was lodged in Pakistani jail.

Subsequently, Hansaben and MLA Krishna Hegde followed up with the Indian and Pakistani authorities. “Constant follow-ups have borne fruit. I am thankful to the Indian and Pakistani authorities for expediting the release process. Since the news of Bhavesh’s release has spread, I have been approached by three families in Punjab for assistance in such cases,” said Mr Hegde.

Hansaben and MLA Hegde will be present at the Wagah-Attari border on Thursday to receive Bhavesh.

After the formalities are completed, Bhavesh is likely to be released by noon after which he will come to Mumbai.

http://www.asianage.com/india/pakistan-free-missing-indian-762

The Tribune – ‘Ensure safety of minorities’

Neeraj Bagga, Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14. Peace lovers from India and Pakistan today appealed to the governments of both the nations to deal firmly with instances of abduction of women and forcible conversion of minorities. The appeal came in view of reports regarding persecution of minorities in Pakistan and its Hindu population’s plans to migrate to India.

They exhorted the two nations to ensure protection of democratic rights of the minorities, women and children in their respective countries. This appeal was part of the 11-point resolution passed by the Hind Pak Dosti Manch, Folklore Research Academy from India and SAFMA from Pakistan.

The members welcomed the Indian government’s decision of permitting FDI from Pakistan. They requested both the governments to bring terrorist activities under control and refrain from appeasing communal forces. The two nations must resolve all bilateral issues, including Kashmir with talks and should sincerely help each other in nailing the communal forces, they said.

The resolution also sought opening of visa centres in Amritsar and Lahore for felicitating smooth movement across the international border. It also appealed to the governments to ensure implementation of resolutions passed by SAARC.

Later, “Aman Karavan” began from the Jallianwala Bagh with CPI general secretary Sudhakar Reddy carrying flame from the historical venue to the International Border (IB) for a candlelight procession at the Attari-Wagah border to mark the 66th Independence Day celebrations of India and Pakistan on the intervening night of August 14 and 15.

Reddy said harmonious relations between the neighbours would pave the way for a bright future for the generations to come.

Khaled Ahmad, SAFMA group leader from Pakistan, said continuous holding of the vigil was bringing the two nations closer.

He said leaders and bureaucrats from two nations were again holding discussions on various matters and they were expected to break new grounds.

Former MP Shahid Siddique said the Jallianwala Bagh incident had abolished the practice of providing separate earthen pot for drinking water of Hindus and Muslims way back in 1919. Similarly, he hoped that the efforts of peaceniks to light candles at the IB with the motive of bringing peace would one day dilute the significance of the border and there would be easy exchange between people of the two nations.

Samajwadi Party leader from Uttar Pradesh Ambika Chaudhary appreciated efforts of the peaceniks from the two countries.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120815/punjab.htm#5

BBC News – Pakistan cricket team to visit India in December

Monday, 16 July 2012. India looks set to resume bilateral cricketing ties with Pakistan after a gap of several years, with plans for Pakistani cricketers to tour India.

India’s cricket board says three One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches have been planned for December.

Pakistan Cricket Board welcomed the proposal and said that millions of fans would be delighted.

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan was in 2007-2008 when the Pakistani team visited India.

Cricketing ties were suspended after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, blamed on a Pakistan-based militant group.

Indian government approval is still needed for the series to go ahead but analysts say this is just a formality.

“It was decided to resume cricketing ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan cricket team for a short series in December 2012-January 2013,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said in a press release on Monday.

“The modalities will be worked out shortly,” it added.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla later told reporters that Chennai, Calcutta and Delhi will host the One Day Internationals.

The T20s will be played in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, he added.

Mr Shukla said the home minister and the external affairs minister both knew of the decision and were “totally fine with it”.

‘Great decision’

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has welcomed the series with India in five years, reports AFP.

“The decision is great and we welcome it. It seems that millions of cricket fans have their wishes fulfilled,” PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said in Lahore.

“We are still waiting for a BCCI invitation for the series, but it seems it will surely be held later this year,” he added.

Correspondents say the proposal to resume cricketing ties is a sign of improving relations between the two countries.

Earlier this month, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan met in Delhi and the two sides discussed their willingness to have more sporting contact between the two countries.

The South Asian rivals have played each other in the 2011 World Cup and Asia Cup in Bangladesh recently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18854974

The Tribune – Pakistan troops again open fire along LoC

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria & Darshan Bharti, Tribune News Service

Jammu/Poonch, June 19. After a brief lull, Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire for the fifth time since June 13 targeting Indian forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the KG sector of Poonch district today morning. No troops were injured. Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts with small and medium arms. Official sources said that firing lasted for nearly an hour.

“Around 10 am, Pakistani troops again resorted to unprovoked and unwarranted firing in the KG sector. They used small arms fire that lasted around 15 minutes,” Jammu-based Defence PRO Col RK Palta said.

The Indian Army said it exercised restraint to de-escalate the situation.

“Since this time their fire was ineffective, we didn’t retaliate in a bid to de-escalate the situation,” said Colonel Palta. He denied reports of air space violation by Pakistan in the KG sector this morning.

The Army has dashed off a detailed note to Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters at New Delhi about unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops in the KG sector and its fallout on cross-LoC trade and travel. The Indian Army repeated its message via hotline to Pakistan to hold the flag meet at the earliest to bring the situation back to normal. “No response has been received from Pakistan,” said Colonel Palta.

Sources said the 653 Mujahid Regiment of the Pakistan Rangers, a battalion of local PoK Mujahideens, had been assigned the task to push Pakistan militants into India.

Fresh flag meeting sought

The Army has now sought a Brigade Commander-level flag meeting with its Pakistani counterpart to discuss the spurt in ceasefire violations. Pakistan’s response is awaited.

Brigade Commander-level meetings are sought only when the situation on the border escalates and starts showing no signs of a let-up Pakistan had on June 16 cancelled a Commandant (Colonel)-level meeting without assigning any reason.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120620/main4.htm

The Tribune – Pakistan refuses to attend flag meet; LoC trade halted

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria, Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 16. In a setback to efforts for maintaining peace along the Line of Control, the Pakistani Army today refused to attend a crucial flag meeting with its Indian counterpart at Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch district. The trans-LoC trade remains suspended for the past two days – first time since it was started four years ago.

Jammu-based traders say they have already suffered a loss of about Rs 1 crore.

Three days ago, Pakistani soldiers targeted forward Indian posts in the KG Sector. Lance Naik Harvinder Singh was killed and three other Indian soldiers were injured. In the same area, the Pakistani troops had shot dead a BSF jawan, PK Mishra, of the 94 Battalion.

“A flag meeting was scheduled between Army officers of the two sides at 11 am today at Chakan-da-Bagh trade point. We had to take up the ceasefire violations and cross-LoC firing by the other side in Poonch’s KG Sector,” said an Army source.

“Pakistani Army officers sent us a message expressing their inability to attend the meeting. They said they would inform us in due course of time,” said the source. The Pakistani side neither assigned any reason for the abrupt cancellation nor did they give any fresh dates, said the source.

The recalcitrant attitude of the Pakistani authorities has abruptly halted the cross-LoC trade via Chakan-da-Bagh. Cross-LoC Traders’ Poonch Association chief Pawan Anand said on June 14-15, the Jammu-based traders had dispatched 22 trucks carrying bananas, chilli and tamarind, but the Pakistani authorities did not open the gates. “The trucks returned, causing a loss of Rs 1 crore,” he said.

“Ceasefire violations are common, but these had no impact on trade,” said Anand. This is the first time the trade route has been shut down.

What happened

- The flag meeting was scheduled between Army officers of both sides at Chakan-da-Bagh trade point to take up ceasefire violations and cross-LoC firing in Poonch’s KG Sector

- Trans-LoC trade suspended for the past two days, the first time since it was started four years ago, after ceasefire violations

- Jammu-based traders say they have already suffered a loss of about Rs 1 crore

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120617/main2.htm

Dawn – President, PM felicitate India

Islamabad, 27 January 2012. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani felicitated India on its Republic Day on Thursday.

In a letter to his Indian counterpart Pratibha Devisingh Patil, President Zardari said: “On the occasion of the Republic Day of India, I wish to convey to Your Excellency and the people of India warm felicitations and good wishes of the people of Pakistan. I am confident that our two countries would continue to endeavour to develop friendly, good neighbourly and cooperative relations. We wish the people of India progress and prosperity.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

In his message to his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister Gilani said: “Pakistan is fully committed to developing friendly relations with India on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect and commonality of interest. We believe that the development and wellbeing of our peoples and our common goal of peaceful and prosperous South Asia can be achieved through the resolution of all outstanding bilateral issues between us.” (Agencies)

http://www.dawn.com/2012/01/27/president-pm-felicitate-india.html