[Of course, we'll have to wait and watch how things actually unfold. In this context, it won't be out of place to mention in passing, that the brand new Foreign Secretary, specially chosen by Modi, is now set to visit Pakistan. And there is not a word of explanation, at least as yet, what exactly has changed since the abrupt unilateral cancellation of the scheduled Secretary-level talks in August last by India. (See the news report at sl. no. II below.)
Just to clarify, the talk of "reconciliation" and the forthcoming planned trip of the Indian Foreign Secretary to Pakistan are of course welcome developments. But one must not be too hopeful, right at this moment.] I/II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Historical-opportunity-for-reconciliation-BJP-on-new-JK-govt/articleshow/46386547.cms Historical opportunity for reconciliation: BJP on new J&K govt PTI | Feb 26, 2015, 09.17 PM IST NEW DELHI: Set to form government in Jammu & Kashmir with PDP, BJP on Thursday said it could be a "historical opportunity" to bring about larger reconciliation in the state in the national interest. Senior BJP leader and finance minister Arun Jaitley told Rajya Sabha that people in the state have voted "overwhelmingly" for BJP in Jammu and for PDP in the valley. "It may be a historical opportunity to bring about larger reconciliation in Jammu & Kashmir in larger national interest," he said while intervening in the debate on Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. "There is a peculiar situation there for us but there is no lack of honesty in our stand. It is our transparency and honesty that Hurriyat is ready to talk to us and not to you," he told senior Congress leader from the state and leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. The remarks come at a time when PDP and BJP have ironed out their differences and reached a consensus on a common minimum programme (CMP) that will form the basis of their unique coalition government in Jammu & Kashmir to be sworn-in at 11am on Sunday next. PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is tipped to be the chief minister, will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday. Jaitley targeted Azad for his remarks that BJP was a red-rag there, saying it amounted to showing disrespect to wisdom of people of the state who had voted for the party. "Your definition of red rag changes...in 1953 it was Sheikh Saheb and later National Congress," he told the Congress leader. He asked Azad to ponder upon what his party did there in the last five decades and added "all of us has great attachment" to the state. Jaitley said it has been no secret as to how in the past Congress party has been winning in J&K and questioned "what did you do for the state." Taking a dig at Congress, he said it had shown "flexibility" by changing allies just for the sake of being in power. II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pakistan-army-chief-warns-India-ahead-of-Jaishankars-visit/articleshow/46386149.cms Pakistan army chief warns India ahead of Jaishankar's visit PTI | Feb 26, 2015, 08.52 PM IST ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's powerful army chief General Raheel Sharif on Thursday warned India of a "befitting response" to alleged provocation along the Line of Control (LoC), just days before the arrival of foreign secretary S Jaishankar here. "Repeated Indian ceasefire violations on the Working Boundary and the LoC in recent past was a distraction for Pakistan from campaign versus terrorism and it affects regional stability," a statement issued by the military qouted Sahrif as saying. "Let there be no doubt that any provocation along LOC and Working Boundary will meet a befitting response," he said. READ ALSO: Pakistan targets BSF posts, civilian areas in overnight firing at J&K border The statement came just days before the crucial visit of Jaishankar to the country. READ ALSO: Jaishankar to begin 'Saarc yatra' from Sunday, in Pak on March 3 Military spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that the army chief visited areas affected by recent Indian firing near Sialkot and met troops and local residents. "Nation united in defence of motherland," Sharif said. Pakistan and India have traded heavy fire in the area in recent months. A woman displays mortar shells allegedly fired from the Pakistani side of the border, at a village in Arnia sector of Jammu (PTI Photo) Jaishankar will arrive here on a two-day visit on March 3, seven months after India cancelled foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan. ***India broke off foreign secretary-level talks in August last at the eleventh hour because the Pakistan high commissioner in New Delhi held consultations with Kashmiri separatists.*** [Emphasis added.] -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
