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India declared on Monday that its stand that Kashmir is an integral part of the Union "remains unaltered".
"Government is a servant of Parliament. And Parliament has said the whole of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral component of India and that stand remains unaltered," External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told a press conference in New Delhi.
"We do not wish to enter into any contention with Pakistan before General Pervez Musharraf's visit here," he said.
Replying to a question on the withdrawal of the unilateral ceasefire in the state and a spurt in militant activities, Singh said, "It is a fact of life that terrorism is being encouraged and abetted by Pakistan.
"We will address the situation of J&K internally as a domestic issue. When it comes to talks with Pakistan it is a bilateral issue," he said.
Asked about the proposed date of Musharraf's visit to New Delhi, he said, "I am still awaiting a formal response from Pakistan," but added that it would be "a balance of mutual convenience of calendars of both heads of government".
Singh parried a question whether the Pakistani chief executive would meet leaders of the Hurriyat Conference during his proposed visit to India saying, "Gen Musharraf is coming to India at the invitation of the prime minister and to meet him. From where these additionalities are cropping up is beyond my comprehension."
Asked how the proposed talks with Pakistan could be fruitful when India was asserting that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of the Union, Singh said the two countries had agreed on a process of composite dialogue a few years ago. "We have no difficulty talking on any issue. We have no hesitation in talking about J&K," he said.
Singh replied in the negative when asked whether the United States had influenced New Delhi to hold talks with Islamabad. "India does not permit itself to be used as an instrument by others. We pursue our policy in the national interests," he said.
On holding talks with Kashmiri groups, he said, "We will continue to build on the achievements of the past six months and K C Pant [the Centre's interlocutor in Kashmir] is now visiting the state in this connection."
There has been a significant and substantial fall in the exchange of fire across the border between India and Pakistan, especially in the Srinagar and Jammu sectors, Singh said.
PTI
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