Pakistan Foreign Minister in India to push peace process

INDIA: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister arrived in India on Friday to boost a slow-moving peace process between the South Asian rivals, still at odds over the 60-year-old Kashmir dispute.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi “will hold talks with (Indian Foreign) Minister Pranab Mukherjee during which they will review the peace talks and discuss fresh steps” to anchor the process, a senior Indian foreign ministry official said.

A proposal to start a truck service to promote trade between Indian and Pakistani administered zones of Kashmir has been languishing for months, the official said, adding “this could get a push” at the talks. Other measures to improve confidence, including new bus and rail links, would also be considered, he said.

Reports said India would raise the issue of alleged infiltrations from Pakistan by Islamic militants battling Indian-rule over part of Kashmir.

India says Pakistan supports the Muslim insurgency in its region of Kashmir, helping rebels to cross under the cover of fire from Pakistani border guards, a charge Islamabad denies.

Violence in the revolt-hit region has declined considerably since the neighbours launched peace talks in 2004, but India’s defence minister said last week he feared an upsurge in the run-up to state polls later this year.

The warning came after several clashes in recent weeks along the Line of Control separating Indian and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

The insurgency has left more than 43,000 people dead since it started in 1989.

Qureshi’s visit comes a month after a visit by his Indian counterpart to Islamabad.

During his three-day stay, Qureshi will meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ex-premier and Hindu nationalist opposition leader Atal Behari Vajpayee and other officials, a foreign ministry statement said.

New Delhi, Friday, AFP