Historic truce in Kashmir region caught between death and hope
New Delhi (AsiaNews) The truce between the two neighboring nuclear powers is considered a historic milestone by the Indian mass-media. In the past, both parties accepted mitigating tensions without, however, ever desiring a complete cease of hostility between the two nations. India, even when welcoming an appeal to a truce launched last Sunday by Pakistan's prime minister, Zafarullah Khan Jamali, said it would continue to open fire against Islamic militants attempting to filter into their country from Pakistan.
According to Reuters, today Nov. 28, Indian armed forces fired against and killed two guerilla soldiers. Both were crossing over the ceasefire zone heading toward Pakistan. The incident, according to Pakistani police, occurred in the Kashmir region near Jhallas, 155 miles north of the summer resort capital of Jammu.
No one knows how long the truce will last. Immediately following the ceasefire declaration, Muslim guerillas in the Indian Kashmir region defined the truce as "meaningless". They warned that "the territorial dispute could not be resolved without participation Kashmir inhabitants," the majority of which are Muslim.
On Thursday Nov. 27 other incidents further marred with blood hopes for peace. A bomb exploded in the summer capital of the Indian Kashmir region, leading to the death of a shopkeeper, policeman and 11 suspected militants. On the very same day, Indian border security patrol forces opened fire, killing two presumed suspects near Ghat in the Doda district.
An army spokesman, quoted by the Indian Daily, nevertheless affirmed that when the ceasefire was ordered, "there was no longer any firing along international borders." The same newspaper reported statements made by India's foreign affairs minister, Yashwant Sinha, in which he said his country was "very interested in having good, amicable relations with Pakistan."
India accuses Pakistan of training and financing a dozen guerilla groups combating against India since 1989. Pakistan has always denied such accusations, admitting only to have given separatists moral and diplomatic support.
Today, India's prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, made a statement to the press in which he said he is planning a trip to Pakistan, foreseen for this January. The Indian Premier will probably attend the Regional Summit set to take place in Islamabad. He also expressed his wish to meet his Pakistani counterpart, Zafarullah Khan Jamali, during his visit.
From 1947 until today India and Pakistan have battled for control over the Kashmir region during the course of two wars a territorial diatribe costing 40,000 lives according to Indian sources. Pakistani sources report 80-100,000 deaths, while neutral sources refer to 65,000 victims. (P.B.)
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06/01/2004
18/03/2022 12:58
