By C. Raja Mohan
NEW DELHI March 28. India today insisted that it could consider an Anglo-American proposal for an "immediate ceasefire" with Pakistan only when Islamabad ends crossborder infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir on a permanent basis.
The External Affairs Ministry today "largely welcomed'' the statement issued in Washington on Thursday night by the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, condemning the Sunday massacre of Kashmiri Pandits at Nadimarg in Kashmir.
As they called on Pakistan to "strictly respect the LoC'', the two leaders also said that India and Pakistan "should consider immediately implementing a ceasefire and taking other active steps to reduce tension by moves within the SAARC context''.
This is the first time that Washington and London have publicly underlined the importance of "ceasefire'' in ending the current impasse between India and Pakistan.
The Anglo-American initiative comes amid growing concerns in the international community that the rapid slide in Indo-Pak relations could lead to a renewed military confrontation that could escalate to the nuclear level.
The U.S. and the U.K., the statement said, "stand ready to help both countries to start a process aimed at building confidence, normalising bilateral relations and resolving outstanding differences, including Kashmir''.
Commenting on the ceasefire proposal, the spokesman said "if there is a permanent end to infiltration and cross-border terrorism, the question of firing across the LoC will not arise''.
The Anglo-American statement also said that "the differences between India and Pakistan can only be resolved through peaceful means and engagement''.
In response, India is arguing that a ceasefire and reduction of military tensions can only follow an end to infiltration from Pakistan and not precede it. India, however, might be more willing to move forward with Pakistan on economic issues in the context of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
India had often said in the past that the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, might travel to Islamabad to attend the delayed SAARC summit if Pakistan opened up to normal trade relations with India. India is certainly pleased with the clear assertion by Washington and London that Pakistan should "do its utmost to discourage acts of violence by militants in Kashmir''.
The spokesman said the Anglo-American statement "repudiates Pakistan's assertion that it has no responsibility for violence in Jammu and Kashmir''.
Gen. Powell and Mr. Straw had demanded that "the LoC be strictly respected and Pakistan fulfil its commitments to stop infiltration across it''.
The Foreign Office hopes that "Pakistan will heed the advice proffered, by stopping infiltration, and doing its utmost to cease all aid and abetment to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism'' on its soil and Pak-occupied Kashmir.
If Washington and London can deliver Islamabad on crossborder terrorism, India is signalling, it is prepared to consider a full-range of steps to defuse tensions and normalise relations with Pakistan.