Search the Internet          Tips

Pak media laments India's
'wrong priorities'

Evading the Kashmir issue and overplaying non-issues like Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi's tea party would not lead India and Pakistan anywhere, feel prominent Pakistani journalists, who are in New Delhi in connection with the Agra summit.

They said the Indian government and the media was 'blowing non-issues' like Hurriyat meeting Musharraf and the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) announced by the Indian government 'out of proportion'.

"India is focusing only on the CBMs and tea parties and the media is blowing these non-issues out of proportion. It has to be understood that if confidence has to be restored, you need to take steps towards resolving the Kashmir issue," Mehmood Shaam, editor of the Karachi-based daily Jung said.

In this context, External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh's statement on Thursday that Kashmir was 'not the core issue, but the core of India's nationhood' has not gone down well with the Pakistani media contingent.

"Unless India makes a substantial change in its position, Pakistan's expectations would not be accommodated and nothing would come out of the summit," M H Askari, a columnist for leading Pakistani newspaper Dawn, told rediff.com.

"The Indian government is shifting the focus from the real issue - Kashmir - and making an issue out of a non-issue like Qazi's tea party. What difference would it make if Hurriyat leaders meet Musharraf at the party?" he said.

Askari termed the boycott of Qazi's party by the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as 'naïve and unfortunate'.

"It would be a pity if the two sides fail to make any headway. The people do not want the Kashmir issue to be unresolved. Fair elections under supervision of impartial observers, like the United Nations, is the least India should do," he added.

However, there are some who are still hopeful, like I A Haqqani, a senior editor with Jung.

"Even after what Jaswant Singh said, I am not disappointed," he emphasised.

Zafar Nafees, joint editor of the Islamabad-based Urdu daily Al Akhbar has also not given up hope as yet.

"Hard hitting statements are always made before such summits. I am sure the two leaders will find a way," he said.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report