04031966 Statement of Shri Swaran Singh on Indo-Pakistan Ministerial meeting at Rawalpindi in Lok Sabha, March 4, 1966
04031966 Statement of Shri Swaran Singh on Indo-Pakistan Ministerial meeting at Rawalpindi in Lok Sabha, March 4, 1966
As the House is aware, the Tashkent Declaration provides for various issues to be discussed between India and Pakistan. Both sides have been taking action in fulfilment of some provisions of the Declaration, notably Articles II, V and VII. which relate to the withdrawal and disengagement of forces, the restoration of normal diplomatic relations, and the exchange of prisoners. There has also been partial progress in respect of the restoration of communications envisaged in the Article. VI. as also under Article IV, which calls for the discouragement of propaganda directed against the other country. However, for further progress in pursuance of the Tashkent Declaration numerous other issues of immediate as well as of long-term importance need to be settled and as a result of exchanges between the two Governments it was decided that to this end a meeting be held at Ministers level between the two sides at Rawalpindi on March 1st and 2nd.
Accordingly, the Indian Ministers of External Affairs, of Transport Aviation, Shipping and Tourism, and of Commerce, accompanied by several advisers, had a brief formal opening meeting with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of Commerce and of Communications of the Government of Pakistan and their advisers on the morning of 1st March. Thereafter many meetings, formal and informal at Ministerial and official level, were held and a joint communique was issued on the evening of which I placed on the Table of the House a copy of the communique (Placed in Library, See No. LT-5692/66).
As stated in the Communique, the talks in Rawalpindi were of an exploratory nature and led to a useful exchange of views. During their exchange with the Pakistan Government preparatory to the Conference, the Government of India had suggested that it be held to consider further steps towards the implementation of the Tashkent Declaration The Government of India had added that, in particular, discussions take place on the questions of restoration of trade, economic relations and communications and the property and assets taken over by either side. The Government of Pakistan had proposed that Ministerial meeting should discuss six additional items which were briefly, according to them, the dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, the reduction of armed forces following settlement of the Kashmir dispute, the creation of conditions preventing the exodus of people, the so-called evictions the Farakka Barrage and the implementation of existing agreements.
Eventually it was agreed that the meeting take place without any agenda, each side naturally being free to raise whatever issues it wished to. At the discussions held on March 1st and 2nd, each side explained to the other at length which issues they felt would most appropriately and usefully be discussed at this stage to achieve the purposes of the Tashkent Declaration. The Pakistan Delegation highlighted the question of Kashmir, which they appeared to consider as the root cause of all other Indo-Pakistan issues and which had to be tackled if progress were to be achieved in improving Indo-Pakistan relations. The Indian delegation reiterated the Government of India's views on the Kashmir question and explained that, as no useful purpose could be served by discussions it, the Conference should proceed to complete the normalisation of relations in the fields disturbed by the conflict and also take up some other major issues, the solution of which would lead to a better understanding between the two Governments and greater goodwill between the two peoples. We pointed out that the significance of the Tashkent Declaration was that on the one hand the two sides would not resort to force but would settle their differences by peaceful means, and on the other, they would proceed with the settlement of various individual issues even though on some other issues their positions might remain far apart.
Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to adhere to the terms of the Tashkent Declaration and to discharge their obligations under the Declaration and having exchanged views on the approach which each considered would best further this cause, decided to meet again at a later date.
Shri Swaran Singh: It is true, Sir, that much progress could not be made. During the discussions, about we have agreed to meet again and to discuss it further is the only report that I can make.
Shri Hem Barua: Sir, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Mr. Bhutto, has expressed satisfaction at the use of the word "dispute" in the Joint Rawalpindi Communique. The Tashkent Declaration tells us that Kashmir was discussed at Tashkent and each side presented its respective point of view at Tashkent. May I know, in that context, what is the special reason on account of which the Government started discussing Kashmir again at Rawalpindi before the ink on the Tashkent Declaration could be dry ?
Shri Swaran Singh: On this occasion also when this matter was raised, we on our side reiterated the Indian position on the question of Jammu and Kashmir. On this question of the use of the word "dispute", if the hon. Member studies the Joint communique he will find that it is the statement which was made by the Pakistani delegation, and each side can describe any matter as a dispute. Each side, therefore, reiterated their position and further progress could not be made. So the position of the Government of India on this question of Jammu and Kashmir is exactly the same what it was at the time of the Tashkent Declaration.
We have consistently adopted this attitude, that on any matter that might be raised by one side the other party should not say "no" even to talking on that point. It is quite another
thing that in the course of the talk you reiterate your position, but it will not be correct just to say that we are not going to talk on any matter. We have to talk consistently with the stand which we have taken on the main issue, namely that the sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir is not negotiable. Any propaganda that Pakistan carries on against the Tashkent spirit and the letter of the Tashkent Declaration will be a serious violation of the Declaration, and we will certainly lodge a very strong protest against that. About the specific issue of monitoring, I think it is a matter which is being looked into and if it is established it will be a very serious violation and a very serious act of interference in our internal affairs, and as such something which we cannot tolerate.