harpoon
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Pakistan calls off May 14 talks on Sir Creek, wants to discuss Siachen first
Pakistan has called off next weeks talks on Sir Creek and, instead, suggested re-scheduling the conversation for June 22 after the Siachen talks which are tentatively scheduled for June 11.
In the last round of talks, the Sir Creek talks preceded the Siachen meeting.
While Islamabad has pointed to certain unforeseen circumstances including non-availability of officials the understanding in New Delhi is that Pakistan perhaps wants to first get a sense of Indias position on Siachen before it spells out its own on Sir Creek. Also, sources said, Pakistan probably needs more time to reflect on how to move forward on Sir Creek since this is identified as a doable by both sides.
Despite the re-scheduling, both sides conform to broad timelines for completing this round by June-July, so that the foreign ministers can meet by August, setting the stage for a possible visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan. The Sir Creek talks were scheduled for May 14 in Delhi, to be led by the surveyor general on the Indian side and a senior defence ministry official from the Pakistan side.
Over the past year, the two sides have hardened their stand on both issues. Pakistan, on the basis of the joint survey of the creek, redefined its eastern bank since the creek had moved east by about 1 km-1.5 km. As a result, its claim extended to include the mouth of the adjoining Pir Sanai creek, which was unacceptable to India.
On Siachen, the Indian side made it clear at the last defence secretary-level conversation that withdrawal of troops could be discussed only after the Line of Control had been demarcated by both sides. Pakistan felt that India had toughened its stand because in the past it had agreed to authentication of existing troop positions as sufficient to implement a withdrawal plan. However, Pakistan found that unacceptable too, as it did not want to sign on any document that recorded Indias current troop positions.
The assessment in New Delhi is that the message from Rawalpindi must have been to sequence the talks in such a way that Pakistan does not end up showing flexibility on Sir Creek without an assurance from India on Siachen. Defence Minister A K Antony has told Parliament that there is no change in Indias stand on Siachen.
Pakistan has called off next weeks talks on Sir Creek and, instead, suggested re-scheduling the conversation for June 22 after the Siachen talks which are tentatively scheduled for June 11.
In the last round of talks, the Sir Creek talks preceded the Siachen meeting.
While Islamabad has pointed to certain unforeseen circumstances including non-availability of officials the understanding in New Delhi is that Pakistan perhaps wants to first get a sense of Indias position on Siachen before it spells out its own on Sir Creek. Also, sources said, Pakistan probably needs more time to reflect on how to move forward on Sir Creek since this is identified as a doable by both sides.
Despite the re-scheduling, both sides conform to broad timelines for completing this round by June-July, so that the foreign ministers can meet by August, setting the stage for a possible visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Pakistan. The Sir Creek talks were scheduled for May 14 in Delhi, to be led by the surveyor general on the Indian side and a senior defence ministry official from the Pakistan side.
Over the past year, the two sides have hardened their stand on both issues. Pakistan, on the basis of the joint survey of the creek, redefined its eastern bank since the creek had moved east by about 1 km-1.5 km. As a result, its claim extended to include the mouth of the adjoining Pir Sanai creek, which was unacceptable to India.
On Siachen, the Indian side made it clear at the last defence secretary-level conversation that withdrawal of troops could be discussed only after the Line of Control had been demarcated by both sides. Pakistan felt that India had toughened its stand because in the past it had agreed to authentication of existing troop positions as sufficient to implement a withdrawal plan. However, Pakistan found that unacceptable too, as it did not want to sign on any document that recorded Indias current troop positions.
The assessment in New Delhi is that the message from Rawalpindi must have been to sequence the talks in such a way that Pakistan does not end up showing flexibility on Sir Creek without an assurance from India on Siachen. Defence Minister A K Antony has told Parliament that there is no change in Indias stand on Siachen.
