Wed, Jun 05, 2002 page1

• India, Pakistan talking past one another

  MEETING AT ALMATY As the heads of the nuclear powers sat face to face with pursed lips, every major country on earth pleaded with them to negotiate

  • AP
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  The leaders of India and Pakistan blamed each other in angry statements yesterday for 55 years of conflict as they sat at the same table while their troops fired at each other in disputed Kashmir.

  Russia and China pressed India and Pakistan to enter face-to-face talks to prevent the Kashmir conflict from exploding into a fourth full-scale war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

  

  PHOTO: AP

  But from the tone of the Pakistani and Indian leaders' remarks during a 2 1/2-hour session at an Asian security summit, dialogue appeared even more remote.

  

  PHOTO: AP

  Russian President Vladimir Putin, hoping to act as an international peacemaker, held separate one-on-one meetings with both Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf and India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee -- but there was no sign by the end of the day that the Musharraf and Vajpayee would hold their own talks.

  Indian and Pakistani soldiers unleashed fresh artillery and gunfire at each other in Kashmir yesterday. There were no immediate reports of casualties, but eight civilians died in shelling Monday.

  "We do not want war. If war is imposed on us, we will defend ourselves with the utmost resolution," Musharraf said, sitting about 5m across from the Indian leader at a rectangular, U-shaped table in the Kazakh city of Almaty.

  "The people of South Asia continue to pay a heavy price for the refusal by India to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with resolutions of the United Nations and the wishes of the Kashmiri people."

  Vajpayee accused Pakistan of trying to use nuclear blackmail and rejected Musharraf's repeated assurance that "Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used for any terrorist attacks outside or inside its boundaries."

  Vajpayee said violence in India's portion of Kashmir and infiltration of Islamic militants from Pakistani territory had not decreased since Musharraf first made that assurance Jan. 12.

  "We have seen in the following months that cross-border infiltration has increased, violence in Jammu and Kashmir has continued unabated and terrorist camps continue to operate unhindered across our borders," Vajpayee said.

  "We have repeatedly said that we are willing to discuss all issues with Pakistan, including Jammu and Kashmir," Vajpayee said. "But for that, cross-border terrorism has to end."

  "Nuclear powers should not use nuclear blackmail," Vajpayee said. India has a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons in a conflict, but Pakistan, weaker in conventional arms and army size, has made no such vow.

  Vajpayee and Musharraf both sat with pursed lips and stony stares as the other spoke.

  With the 14 other delegates, they signed a declaration condemning "all forms and manifestations of terrorism" and promising "to strengthen cooperation and dialogue."

  When delegates mingled and greeted each other as the conference ended, the two stood on opposite sides of the room and did not interact.

  Vajpayee and Musharraf were meeting separately with several of the leaders at the summit, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民).

  "We cannot but be concerned about the explosive situation in the relations between Pakistan and India, which threatens to destabilize the situation in the whole Eurasian continent," Putin said at the summit, adding that world leaders would make every effort to defuse the crisis.

  He then put a positive spin on the acerbic Musharraf-Vajpayee exchange, perhaps trying to drum up optimism for his mediation efforts.

  "In the speeches of both leaders we can hear a readiness for dialogue," Putin said.

  Putin seemed more comfortable during talks with Vajpayee, whom he met after Musharraf. Putin said he spoke often with the Indian leader and expressed Russia's concern about India's relationship with Pakistan.

  However, Putin stressed that "we proceed from the assumption that one must do whatever it takes'' to settle the conflict and that to that end Musharraf had sent ``a series of serious and positive signals" during their talks. Putin did not elaborate.

  Jiang urged those involved in regional conflicts to settle ``their disputes peacefully without delay.''

  Musharraf said as he arrived in Almaty on Monday night he was ready for ``unconditional talks'' with Vajpayee.

  The Indian leader insists that before any talks, he must see proof that Pakistan has withdrawn support from Islamic militants who have fought a 12-year insurgency for the independence of India's portion of Kashmir, or its merger with Pakistan.
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