Row over interlocutors saying Pak key to peace in Kashmir-TNN, Oct 25, 2010,

Row over interlocutors saying Pak key to peace in Kashmir

TNN, Oct 25, 2010, 12.02am IST

(I THINK INTERNATIONALIZING THIS ISSUE WILL NOT HELP IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM,IN FACT, IT WILL FURTHER COMPLICATE IT...VIBHA)


NEW DELHI: The interlocutors on Kashmir have started their stint by triggering a controversy. The BJP took strong objection to Dileep Padgaonkar's comment on Saturday that Pakistan's involvement was crucial to resolution of the Kashmir issue, saying the team was exceeding its brief.

BJP accused Padgaonkar of "internationalizing" what India considers to be its internal matter. Significantly, Congress distanced itself from Padgaonkar's comment, saying it was for him to explain what he meant by the formulation.

Taking exception to Padgaonkar's comment that a permanent solution to the Kashmir issue was not possible without Pakistan's involvement, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, "The BJP demands that the PMO immediately clarify if this was part of the brief given to the interlocutors. What was the Pakistan dimension that the interlocutor was referring to. Is this part of the brief given or has he stepped beyond its brief?''

The Congress, on its part, underlined that the illegal occupation of parts of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan was the issue where the neighbouring country was relevant to the narrative. "Padgaonkar is the best person to articulate on what he has said or not said. As far as Congress is concerned, we support the unanimous resolution of Parliament that the unfinished business of partition is to address the issue of illegally occupied parts of J&K by Pakistan," party spokesperson Manish Tiwari said.

Sources in the home ministry, which is the nodal ministry for the interlocutors, sought to downplay the comment, saying it has to be seen in the "larger" context of Pakistani occupation of parts of Kashmir.

Terming Padgaonkar's comment as an attempt to reach out to different sections of people with whom he and his fellow interlocutors -- Radha Kumar and M M Ansari -- have to talk, an official said, "The team has gone to talk to all sections of people, including separatists. Let it test the ground and bring as many people as it can for talks. The interlocutors are expected to find ways to reach a permanent political solution."

Padgaonkar, meanwhile, stuck to his remarks and maintained that what he said regarding Pakistan was "obvious" and there was nothing new. "What I have said with regard to Pakistan is the obvious. I have not said anything that has not been said before. I have not exceeded my brief as we did not get any brief. The home minister has said there are no red lines or boundaries. We know what we are doing," he said in Srinagar.

Recalling that Parliament had passed a resolution on J&K asking Pakistan to vacate those areas which it has occupied, Padgaonkar said, "This shows that there is a Pakistan dimension to this issue."