International   

'Unwarranted' references in Delhi Declaration: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Dec. 5. Islamabad has expressed disappointment over the "unwarranted and unbalanced'' references to Pakistan in the Delhi Declaration signed by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, on Wednesday.

A Pakistan Foreign Office statement came down heavily on India today saying it did not expect anything better from ``chauvinist Indian leaders,'' but chose to be relatively soft on Russia.

It not only gave the benefit of doubt to Moscow on the plea that it had been taken in by the ``Indian propaganda'' but also maintained that it expected Russia, as a major power, to play a constructive role in the resolution of ``grave and fundamental'' problems of peace and security in South Asia.

Islamabad is agitated over a series of statements made by Mr. Putin in the last two weeks, particularly those in the course of his press meet at St. Petersburg on November 22 and his interview to The Hindu and the NDTV.

The Foreign Office reaction to the Delhi Declaration almost sounds like an appeal to Moscow to take note of New Delhi's "adamant" attitude to not return to the dialogue table for resolution of the Kashmir issue. ``The Russian side has also failed to notice India's adamant refusal to resolve the Kashmir dispute in a fair and just manner on the basis of U.N. resolutions and in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.''

The statement regretted that the ``legitimate, genuine and indigenous Kashmir freedom struggle" had not been given "due recognition.''

While the Pakistan Government did not expect any objectivity or reason from the "chauvinist" Indian leaders, "it is unfortunate that the Russian leadership has been taken in by Indian propaganda.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Review plea in Quattrocchi case to be heard on Monday
• Russia slams countries supporting terrorism
• U.N. team on spying mission, says Iraq
• 'Unwarranted' references in Delhi Declaration: Pak.
• Franco-German stand on Turkey soon
• Banned outfits' activists set free in Pak.
• Cherie Blair embroiled in controversy
• Different federal models under study: Peiris
• Blast in Consul building: 3 found dead

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu