Search the Internet          Tips

Indian response not negative, but could have been warmer: Pak

Pakistan on Monday refused to pull back its troops from the Indo-Pak border until India does so and said it had expected a 'warmer' response rather than the cautious welcome the latter gave to Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf's announcements on curbing terrorism.

"Pakistan is constrained to keep what it requires for its defence close to the border," defence spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi told reporters shortly after Defence Minister George Fernandes ruled out any de-escalation on the border till cross-border terrorism is effectively stopped by Islamabad.

"We expect the Indian forces to move back to their peacetime positions, and thereby reduce tension," Qureshi said.

Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Kamran Niaz, who was also present at the briefing, said Pakistan did not consider as negative India's reaction to Musharraf's announcements but would have preferred a warmer response.

Answering questions on Sunday's reaction of External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to Musharraf's speech, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Niaz told mediapersons in Islamabad, "Honestly, we would have preferred a warmer response from India."

"The fact is that they have responded. We do not regard their response as negative. We continue to look to the future and continue to hope that tensions will be defused," he said.

Niaz said Musharraf's January 12 speech was well received both domestically and internationally. "We are grateful for message of support and understanding received from world leaders and governments," he added.

On the Kashmir issue, Niaz said, "Pakistan will continue to provide political, moral and diplomatic support to the 'indigenous struggle' of the Kashmiri people to determine their future in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council."

"Pakistan will exercise all options, including third party mediation, to work for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue," he said.

Asked whether the tension on the border would de-escalate as a result of positive statements from both sides, he said, Pakistan has been looking for de-escalation.

More reports on Pakistan

Tell us what you think of this report