Showing posts with label secretary level talks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label secretary level talks. Show all posts

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

India, Pakistan Glacier Talks Yield No Progress

India and Pakistan Tuesday concluded a 12th round of talks over a disputed Himalayan glacier where troops have clashed intermittently since 1984 without reporting any progress.

This is a piece of good news most Indians were waiting for. Under the UPA regime due to its weak policies, it was feared that Siachen will be handed over to Pakistan disregarding the deep-reservation's within the Indian Military. 

Siachen is one of the most strategic areas of the world, because who-ever controls that height dominates the junction between India,Pakistan and China. Through the passes you can come into India within 4 days and there are no approaches which remain un-observed.In military sense it was a master stroke of Mrs Gandhi and her generals to capture these icy peaks.Once lost it is impossible to win, just imagine only 4000 soldiers defend this area compared to nearly a division of Pakistani army.

Kargil and Post Point 13620 offers a classic case study in decision making.This post overlooks Kargil town and the Srinagar-Leh road, for long the sole lifeline to Ladakh. Artillery observers from this post used to bring down accurate fire on the town and the highway at will.

In May 1965, while the attention of the Pakistanis was focussed on fighting in the Rann [ Images ] of Kutch, a Rajput battalion in a daring daytime attack on May 17, 1965 captured the post and made the highway secure for the first time since 1947.

But under UN pressure, it was handed back to Pakistan.

When infiltration in the Kashmir valley began on August 9, 1965, the Indian Army again attacked Post Point 13620 and captured it. But then came the Tashkent agreement of January 10, 1965, and along with the strategic Haji Pir pass, the Kargil post was again handed back to Pakistan.

Finally in 1971, the Ladakh Scouts under the inspiring leadership of Colonel Rinchan captured not only Point 13620, but the entire ridge during the December war.

It is difficult to find a parallel in world history of an army capturing a mountain post at great human cost and giving it back to the enemy not once, but twice!


The estranged South Asian neighbors in a joint statement said talks, which began May 30, "enhanced understanding of each other's position" on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield.

"Both sides presented their positions and suggestions towards the resolution of Siachen," it said following the two-day talks between Indian Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar with his Pakistani counterpart Syed Athar Ali. It added that they had agreed "to meet again at a mutually-convenient date in Islamabad," without giving any further details.

India in 1984 occupied key areas on Siachen, raising fears of another all-out conflict between the neighbors, and in 1987 the two militaries fought a fierce skirmish on the 6,300-metre (20,800-foot) high frigid mass.

Ties between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, have improved over the last year after contacts between prime ministers and other senior government figures.

The meeting in New Delhi was part of the start-stop peace process aimed at bringing lasting stability to South Asia, the May 31 statement said the two countries "welcomed the ongoing dialogue process."

India broke off all contact with Pakistan in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were staged by the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba according to Indian and Western intelligence.

Monday, 30 May 2011

All Smiles On The First Day Of Talks Between Indian and Pakistan

Home Secretaries of India and Pakistan held first round of talks here on Monday on a number of bilateral issues, including progress in the probe of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Emerging after the talks, Home Secretary G. K. Pillai said that talks were ``extremely positive.’’ ``Progress made in certain direction, in the right direction,’’ Mr. Pillai told reporters on the first day of the two-day talks with Pakistani Interior Secretary Chaudhary Qamar Zaman.

Echoing the sentiments of his Indian counterpart, Mr. Zaman said the talks were ``very positive.’’ He said: ``Since, we have another day for the talks to still follow through, I am not going into the specifics,’’ he told reporters.

``But I can tell you with good amount of certainty that its been a very positive attitude displayed on both sides,’’ he said.

Pakistan has agreed to consider approaching a higher court to enable it to share with India the voice samples of seven Lashkare-Tayyeba (LeT) men, arrested in the 26/11 case.
This was apparently the only positive emerging for India on the first day of the home secretary-level talks between the two countries in the Capital.

The two delegations, led by home secretary G.K. Pillai and Pakistan's interior secretary Chaudhary Qamar Zaman, held discussions for almost five hours.

Mr. Zaman said there were issues that were yet to be discussed. ``We have issues that still we have to discuss. It’s been generally moving on in a good spirit and it has been a business like meeting,’’ he added.

Joint statement

The Pakistan Interior Secretary said that he planned to visit Agra on Wednesday. Mr. Pillai indicated that a joint statement would be issued on Tuesday.

Lasting for nearly five hours, the Home Secretary level talks also marked resumption of a structured high-level contact after the composite dialogue process was suspended in the wake of November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

The two delegations are learnt to have covered a wide range of issues concerning the two neighbours, including counter-terrorism measures, smuggling of narcotics and inflow of fake Indian currency notes.

The talks come ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani as the two leaders are scheduled to watch India-Pakistan semifinal match of the World Cup cricket at Mohali in Punjab on Wednesday. The talks are also likely to cover dismantling of terror camps across the border and progress of Samjhauta Express blasts probe.

Now we must wait for the knives because behind those smiles you can see the sneer and it can be predicted with fair amount of surety that soon Pakistan will stab India in the back

India Pakistan Secretary Level Talks Today Pakistan Wants Siachen

After a gap of three years, defence secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on the long-pending Siachen issue will kick off here on Monday.

"Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar will lead the Indian delegation during the two-day talks," a Defence Ministry official said, adding that "India and Pakistan decided to resume the talks last year after both Prime Ministers met in Thimpu."

Pakistan's Defence Secretary Lt General (Retd) Syed Ather Ali arrived here yesterday for the 12th round of talks, which will conclude on Tuesday.

While the Pakistani delegation has two civilian officials and four military officers, the Indian side includes Special Secretary RK Mathur, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General AM Verma and Surveyor General S Subha Rao, defence officials said.