10 July 2001

IDENTIFICATION MAY BE ENOUGH FOR AZAD KASHMIRIS TO ENTER J&K

From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: Will Kashmiris from the Pakistan-occupied territory (PoK), also called "Azad Kashmir," require a passport to enter Jammu and Kashmir and if so which passport, Indian or Pakistani, under the new policy announced on Tuesday to set up check-posts on the Line of Control (LoC) to issue the visa on the spot?

The tricky question was posed to External Publicity Division spokesperson Nirupama Rao at the official briefing on Tuesday in the context of the fact that India has always treated the occupied territory as an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir and as such those in "Azad Kashmir" were as much Indians as those living in Jammu and Kashmir.

She wriggled out with a prompt reply: "They will carry normal travel and identification documents." And, nobody asked if there could be any normal travel documents besides the passport for entry into a country.

With same promptness, she fielded yet another question as to whether the proposed establishment of check-posts on the Line of Control (LoC) would accord the latter the status of the international border. "No such status. We are just establishing administrative convenience for people on both side."

The spokesperson said India's decision to set up the check-posts for easy access of Pakistanis has been communicated to the Pakistan Government and "we are waiting for their reaction" since the two-way traffic depends on their consent. "We are, however, making preparations to identify the road routes on which the check-posts will be established," she said, adding that no decision was taken as yet on location of the check-posts.

She also disclosed that the list of a 19-member official delegation that will accompany Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has reached the External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday and she has no information about the Pakistani ministers coming except the Foreign Minister. She denied any proposal for the Foreign Minister to arrive a day or two ahead of Musharraf.

In an apparent retaliation to Pakistan's assertion that Kashmir was the only core issue to be focused at the Indo-Pak summit, the spokesperson said: "Focus will be on the meeting between the two leaders, between our Prime Minister and Pakistan President and that really the summit is what it is about."

In reply to a question, she said no decision had been taken so far about the joint Press conference by Vajpayee and Musharraf at the end of the summit.

Sources said Musharraf was keen to hold the joint Press conference, but the Indian side is dissuading him to better address the Press after he returns to Islamabad. While still pressing for the joint Press conference, the Pakistani managers of the summit in Islamabad have worked out a solution by deciding to invite over a dozen Indian editors and senior journalists for a breakfast with Musharraf on Monday to get him an opportunity to ventilate his view in the Indian Press on his angle to the summit talks. END