NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
While urging India to ensure free and fair elections in Jammu & Kashmir, American Secretary of State Colin Powell on Sunday asked Pakistan to let the polls take place without interference from militants as he refused to back President Pervez Musharraf's assertion that incursions have ended.
India should do everything to ensure that the polls in Kashmir meet international standards by permitting independent observers and all parties should ensure that they are held without interference from those who are opposed to it, Powell said at a joint press conference with Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inamul Haq.
"All parties must do their part to ensure that the upcoming elections can be held in safety and without interference from those who wants to spoil those elections," he said after talks with General Musharraf.
"If the Kashmiris want to run and vote in the elections they should be allowed to do so without endangering their lives," he said without directly referring to threats from the Pakistan-based extremist group Jamait-ul-Mujahideen to kill anyone taking part in the poll process.
Powell said the US sees the polls as the first step leading to resumption of a dialogue between the two countries though they "can't resolve problems between India and Pakistan nor can they erase scars".
On General Musharraf's assertion that infiltration into Kashmir has stopped, Powell said, "We still are not able to say that they [incidents of infiltration] have been stopped, although they have gone down."
"But we'll be watching this very carefully and assessing the points of view of the two sides as we move forward," he said.
Powell said the Indians have a different view on infiltration. "Obviously as you all know the Indians have a different view as to whether or not the infiltration across the Line of Control has stopped."
The American secretary of state stressed that the important thing was that tensions between the two neighbours have come down.
"The important thing to take note of is the fact that tension has gone down significantly, and even the Indians acknowledge that to a degree cross-border infiltration has gone down," he said. "Quantifying it and whether it is a zero or something above zero, I think, is the challenge as we move forward."
Asked whether he brought any new proposals to resolve the Kashmir issue, Powell replied in the negative. "This is an issue that has to be resolved between the two parties. The two parties will have to resolve. We are happy to come with ideas," he said.
Asked when the dialogue could actually begin, Powell said the talks could begin after the two sides reach an agreement on the contentious issue of infiltration.
"If the infiltration goes down to a level that anybody reasonably observing what is happening at the [Line of Control] will come to a conclusion that it has ended with an exception that of rogue activity taking place," the talks could begin at that time.
"If there is a point reached and actual evidence available to bring this [infiltration] to an end, then I think it is easier for two sides to begin dialogue," he said.
PTI
EARLIER REPORT: India rejects international monitors for J&K poll Musharraf says infiltration has stopped; India sceptical
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