Humanitarian operation jeopardised: India-Pakistan row erupts before Kashmir talks

Islamabad accuses Indian Navy of hampering hostage rescue operation.


Kamran Yousaf June 18, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Ahead of crucial talks on the longstanding Kashmir dispute, a diplomatic row has erupted between India and Pakistan after Islamabad on Friday accused an Indian Navy warship of hampering the humanitarian operation being carried out by the Pakistan Navy to rescue an Egyptian vessel released by Somali Pirates this week.


Pakistan naval ship Babar was providing cover for the merchant vessel (MV) that has 22 hostages on board, including six Indians, 11 Egyptians, four Pakistanis and one Sri Lankan freed after 10 months.

The release materialised after hectic efforts by the Ansar Burney Trust, which arranged a $2.1 million ransom to rescue the hostages last Monday.

The development came hours after Pakistan and India announced that their top diplomats would meet in Islamabad next week to discuss the Kashmir dispute, along with issues pertaining to peace and security between the two nations for the first time in three years.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said Pakistan lodged a protest with the India government on an incident that occurred on June 16 when an Indian Navy Ship Godavari not only hampered the humanitarian operations being carried out by Pakistan Navy Ship Babur, but also undertook dangerous manoeuvres during the course of the incident.

However, it did not say where exactly the incident took place.

“It (incident) resulted in the brushing of the sides of INS Godavari and PNS Babur,” the statement said.

The statement added that the PNS Babur was escorting and assisting MV Suez which had been released by the Somali pirates.

Pakistan termed the incident a serious violation of international regulations.

“The Indian government has been asked to ensure non-recurrence of such incidents,” it added.

Reports indicate the Indian government sent its naval warship to escort the Egyptian vessel that also carries Indian hostages released by Somali Pirates.

The move is seen as a belated effort by the Indian government to take credit for the release of hostages as earlier it refused to help the captives.

However, it is not yet clear if the latest incident could impact the crucial foreign secretary-level talks on June 23-24.

The two-day parleys will also discuss confidence building measures (CBMs) and promotion of friendly exchanges, the statement said.

The talks on the Kashmir dispute, which has been the main source of friction between the two countries for the past 60 years, will be the first since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.







Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.

COMMENTS (33)

maestro | 12 years ago | Reply @Feroz: Feroz, the problem we have with our "elected" governments is that they are mostly feudal landlords who command votes and rig elections. The best thing Nehru did after independence was abolish the princely state system left to those who were loyal to the British. Pakistan never did that - so now we have poor masses under the thumb of feudals who have no choice but to vote for them, Un kah namak khataay hain toh vote dehna parta hay. Imran Khan is coming soon as our next PM and you will see the change immediately. 80% of Pakistanis watch Indian soap dramas, movies, etc. We have tooo much in common to be enemies. The world does not want India and Pakistan to be true friends - why would they - their arms sales would go down the drain! War is profit my friend! What was that movie with Nicholas Cage - Lord of War? I can bet you anytime India and Pakistan start getting close, there will be a terrorist attack on this side or that side and then both will have to buy more munitions - money speaks for the west bro. We as a people on both sides have to stop and understand. I hope for the day when our borders open and Indians and Pakistanis can come back and forth easily, mingle with each other. Gauranteed no Pakistani or Indian will want to see each other hurt.
Feroz | 12 years ago | Reply @maestro: As an Indian we would love to have good relations with all neighbours and wish them well. We are more interested in bettering our Economic prospects and in making life better for all citizens. We have neither inclination or time to be meddling in affairs of any country. What system of Government is adopted by others like Military Dictatorship, Theocracy, Communism etc is not our business. If any country wants to train, arm and finance terrorists we have no problem as long as they are able to keep them within their borders. If these terrorists are exported we do not care who exported them and why, we merely say the country of Origin must take responsibility for the consequences. Pakistan cannot build cohesion among its people by imagining its neighbours as Enemies, and creating insecurity among its citizens. India is helping many countries - $ 1.5 Billion for Afghanistan and just announced $ 5 Billion assistance for Africa spread over the next 5 years. If it is in our interest to help out brothers in Pakistan, we will do the same. To citizens who always complain about the country and Government I simply say - "the elected leaders are only a mirror reflection of the people". People must be the agents of change they want to see and like Abraham Lincoln I stress " ask not what the country can do for you, ask what you can do for the country".
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