In response to the questions the Spokesperson said the following:
- Asked to comment about the statement made by the Chief Military Observer of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Major Gen. Hermann K Loidolt in Srinagar on October 29, 2001, the Spokesperson said that the statement was totally unwarranted and uncalled for. India has never indulged in political games or diversionary tactics. We saw no need for obiter dicta on the Jammu & Kashmir issue from third parties. As we have said on many occasions in the past the issue of Jammu & Kashmir can only be discussed between India and Pakistan on the basis of the understandings enshrined in the Shimla Agreement. In response to the statement that US should play a role to settle the issue, the Spokesperson said that India absolutely reject that statement. The state of Jammu & Kashmir is, and will always be, an integral and inalienable part of India. As far as the involvement of any other countries is concerned, she drew attention to her earlier statements that the issue has to be discussed bilaterally between India and Pakistan. In response to another question whether India would take up the issue of Maj. Gen. Loidolt’s statement with the UN, the Spokesperson said that India would take it up appropriately with the UN. She also recalled the statement made by UN Secretary General during his visit to South Asia in March 2001, where he emphasized that India and Pakistan should talk to each other on the issue of J &K and that the UN Resolutions on the subjects were not enforceable.
- Asked to which country Maj. Gen. Loidolt belonged to, the Spokesperson said that his nationality was Austrian.
- Asked why India had allowed the operation of this office for so long, the Spokesperson said that the office has been operating from Delhi and occasionally the Chief Military Observer would make visit to the Valley and also move to Rawalpindi. As far as the effectiveness of its operation, it had not operated on a permanent basis in the Valley of Kashmir after 1972. In terms of contributions that it had made to this issue, its contribution does not exist.
- Asked whether Maj. Gen. Loidolt was aware of the Shimla Agreement, the Spokesperson said that she hoped that he was aware of it. He should be aware of it. It was necessary for him to be aware of it.
- Asked to comment about the American apprehension that in case of the instability in Pakistan there was a danger of nuclear weapons falling in to the hands of the terrorists or fundamentalists, the Spokesperson said that she had already answered this question on an earlier occasion and she had no comments to offer. India’s views about the clandestine nature of the Pakistan’s nuclear programme are well known and had been articulated at length.
- Asked to comment about the statement made by Defence Minister George Fernandes that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are in the safe hands, Brig. Jaspaul Singh said that he presumed that what the Defence Minister had said must be right.
- Asked to comment on the reports that Pakistan’s three former nuclear scientists has been arrested, the Spokesperson said that we had seen the reports but we had no independent confirmations of the report. In response to question whether any nuclear weapons could have fallen in to Osama Bin Laden’s hands, the Spokesperson said that she would not be able to comment in this regard. Asked whether she has any intelligence report in this regard the Spokesperson said that she would not like to discuss intelligence inputs in this regard.
- Asked to respond what could be the immediate provocation for Maj. Gen. Loidolt to make such a statement, the Spokesperson said that the question should be addressed to Maj. Gen. Loidolt himself. In response to a question whether Maj. Gen. Loidolt had spoken out of turn, the Spokesperson said that it was not his turn to speak in any case.
- Asked to comment on the alleged "fiasco” on the reported arrest of Abu Salem, the Spokesperson drew attention to the report in the Indian Express on the 28th of October, 2001 which spoke about UAE and the Government of India having two Salem stories on this subject, she then read out a letter from the UAE Ambassador in New Delhi to the Editor of the Indian Express which stated the following: " This has reference to the news item "UAE government have two Salem stories” which appeared in your esteemed Newspaper dated 28th October, 2001. I would like to bring to your notice that your correspondent has attributed the comments regarding the arrest of Abu Salem to me, the comment which I have never made. What I have said was my information on this issue was also through Indian Newspapers. I don’t have anything else to say and this was in response to the quotations of my comments on the news items which appeared on various Indian Newspapers on this issue”. The Spokesperson added that there was no confirmation of any arrest or detention of Abu Salem from the UAE authorities.
- Asked to comment on the statement made by former Japanese Prime Minister that Japan did not know the source of terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, the Spokesperson said that the Prime Minister Vajpayee had met former Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Mori earlier in the afternoon and had very useful discussions in the course of which they not only discussed India-Japan bilateral relations and the strengthening of economic co-operation between the two countries but also the situation in our region. Our views on cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir were also amply conveyed to the Japanese side. The Government of Japan understands our apprehension on this score and appreciates our position. As far as what he said in the press conference was concerned he had expressed certain views but that in no way negates the validity of our perceptions about from where cross-border terrorism in our region emanates. Our views on that are extremely firm and we would not compromise on that.
- Asked to comment on the statement made by Mr. Mori on cross-border terrorism and that India should focus what to do rather than from where it comes from, the Spokesperson said that on the part of India that there has been no lack of restraint, no want of maturity and balance and we have never sought to provoke violence. The problem in Jammu & Kashmir is a direct consequence of the cross-border terrorism and proxy war unleashed on India from Pakistan. That is our position and that is well known to the Government of Japan. As far as working together in fighting against terrorism of course countries like Japan and India and other democracies have to see this as our struggle and we have this common enemy to resist and to defeat. In that sense obviously we have to work together. As far as the issue of cross-border terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir is concerned, India has said all along that we are completely prepared to resist the forces that oppose us on our own and we do not seek and indeed do not need any assistance from anybody else and from any other country to deal with this challenge. We have dealt with this all these years and we would continue to address it.
Press Briefing
Ministry Of External Affairs, India
