NEW DELHI, 15 October — Mixed signals are emanating about the future relationship between India and Pakistan.
On the one hand, India is likely to consider easing of tension along the border, on the other, it is still not open to revival of talks with Islamabad.
Despite India planning to announce new measures for de-escalation of tension along the border in Kashmir, within a day or two, there has been no laxity in its accusations against Islamabad’s role in encouraging cross-border terrorism. India having told United States that there was no question of resumption of dialogue with Pakistan in the near future as it continues to perpetrate violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, India is likely to pull back some troops from Kashmir frontier with Pakistan to the north while keeping defenses high along its western desert border, analysts said yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani announced Sunday that India’s National Security Council advisory board was to meet tomorrow to review the deployment of hundreds of thousands of troops on India’s volatile borders with Pakistan following an attack last December by gunmen on Parliament.
“There is no surprise in Advani’s announcement as a de-escalation of troops was on the cards after the Kashmir elections,” said Rahul Bedi, an expert from Jane’s Defense Weekly. Defense Minister George Fernandes had repeatedly said the troops would remain in Kashmir at least until the end of elections in the Himalayan region.
“However, India is unhappy with the fact that there has been no let-up in militant activity on the ground as borne out by the violence seen during the elections,” Bedi added.
More than 830 people were killed during the four-phased poll in Kashmir that began Sept. 16 and ended Oct. 8, with militants New Delhi claims are sponsored by Islamabad daily attacking polling stations, candidates, security forces and civilians.
Other analysts believe India would now begin withdrawing troops from Kashmir to show its commitment to de-escalating tensions with its archrival that almost spilled into full-scale war in May when militants killed soldiers and their families in the south of Kashmir.
They also pointed out that with winter starting to set in, the ability of militants to use Himalayan mountain routes to infiltrate India would be severely reduced, enabling a lesser deployment of those trying to keep them out.
Violence also spilled last month into the western state of Gujarat, where two militants attacked a temple in Gandhinagar on Sept. 24, killing 31 people before they were gunned down by security forces.
Officials in Jodhpur in the desert state of Rajasthan said the attack on the temple and upcoming polls in Gujarat would ensure the army “kept a vigil” on India’s 1,050 km western border with Pakistan.
“The army is likely to stay put (along the western border). While reviewing troop deployment the security council has to factor in the terrorist attack on the Akshardham temple,” said a senior army official.
“These terrorist attacks could increase with elections in Gujarat.” The Election Commission has said a provincial vote could be held in November or December in Gujarat. Meanwhile, troops shot dead five militants in Kashmir overnight yesterday.
