|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 14 November 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
India's crucial move to ease tension in Kashmir Globescan by M.P. Muttiah Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision on troop reduction in Jammu and Kashmir has been welcomed as a positive sign to promote peace talks with Pakistan. This is the first crucial decision of India ever since the insurgency began in Kashmir. Singh announced on Thursday, that the number of troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir would be reduced as the situation in the valley had improved. India has deployed about one million troops in the Himalayan region since 1989, when separatists began fighting for the independence of Jammu-Kashmir. Singh's announcement came after Pakistani President Pervez Musharaaf's call for a debate over the possibility of withdrawing arms and troops from Azad Kashmir and Jammu-Kashmir, to break the deadlock over the region. Analysts view that the reduction of troops would inspire peace talks between India and Pakistan. Separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the decision. Chief Minister of the State Mufti Mohamed Sayeed said that this was the biggest ever confidence building measure. All-Party Hurriyat Conference said that Singh's announcement had demonstrated a positive change in the policy of the government towards Kashmir. Pakistan too welcomed the move as a step in the right direction and it could ease tension between the two countries. However, in Pakistan, an official of Hezb-ul Mujahedeen, one of the main guerilla groups fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir, refused to comment and alleged that Pakistan was giving in too much to India. Prime Minister Singh in his announcement reiterated that India could not afford to relax the vigil, as infiltration attempts from across the border and the Line of Control continue. However, in an interview to Financial Times, in The Hague, the Prime Minister said he was willing to look at all options to think about a new chapter and a new beginning. Analysts view that Singh's announcement would give a boost to the high-level talks to be held between India and Pakistan this month. The East China Sea has created tension between Japan and China. Both countries were at loggerheads over the intrusion of a Chinese submarine in Japanese sea waters. The Japanese Defence Agency said that intrusion was a highly provocative act by the Chinese navy. The Maritime Self-Defence Force of Japan said that it had sighted 10 navy vessels and sixteen research ships inside Japanese Economic Exclusive Zone in the East China Sea this year. Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura summoned a top Chinese diplomat and lodged a protest with Beijing and demanded an apology. The Chinese diplomat told the Japanese Foreign Minister that his country was conducting its own investigations over the submarine incident and declined to accept a protest or make an apology. The candidate of the South West African Peoples Organisation, SWAPO, is poised to win the Presidential election to be held tomorrow and day-after in Namibia. President Sam Nujoma, who led the SWAPO liberation movement would step down on March 21 after a 15-year rule of Namibia. SWAPO fought against a century of German and South African rule. SWAPO candidate Hifikepunye Pohamba, is expected to win the election. Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush vowed to establish a Palestinian State within four years. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would mobilise international support to help Bush in his efforts. Bush also announced that he would travel to Europe next year to meet his European allies. Observers believe that his visit would normalise the strained relations between the United States and Europe over various international issues. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
