Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 7

The Standing Committee on External Affairs, in its report submitted last week to Parliament, has sought an incremental approach towards the revival of dialogue with Pakistan, while acknowledging the Pakistan army’s hostility as big obstacle to peace.The report says, “The committee, headed by Shashi Tharoor, was of the opinion that peace process should not be held hostage to terror acts and both countries must keep the channels of communication open, even during the worst of crises and not let non-state actors and their state sponsors derail or dictate the foreign policy objectives of sovereign nations. It believed that the engagement between neighbours cannot be stopped indefinitely.”  It further adds, “The committee would recommend an incremental approach to such a resumption of the dialogue process by starting with less-contentious issues.”The government, in its response, said it was committed to resolving “all outstanding issues bilaterally through peaceful means in accordance with Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration”, but added this could only be achieved in “environment free from terror, hostility and violence”. Underlining that there can be no compromise on cross-border terrorism, the ministry, in its reply, has said, “The government has maintained the channels of communications open with Pakistan, including through respective diplomatic missions and regular contacts between the border-guarding forces on both sides.” The committee has called regrettable the lack of a National Security Framework for outlining a broad doctrine, response mechanism and standard operating procedures on all-possible aspects of national security concerns. It seeks establishing a joint coordination mechanism of the Army, Navy and Air Force and border-guarding forces. It advocates pursuing a proactive and assertive position on India’s rightful claims to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.“In view of the fact that India is currently occupying strategic heights and advantage at Siachen, it was Pakistan’s agenda to push for demilitarisation of the glacier. Moreover, the committee observed that the present cooperation between China and Pakistan has assumed worrying proportions,” says the report.“The committee would also desire the government to continue making concerted efforts through diplomatic outreach to sensitise China about the manner in which the CPEC and the non-listing of Masood Azhar on the UN sanction list impinges on our sovereignty and security interests,” says the report.