Pakistan Cautious on India Offer

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

(11:32 AM ET) (15:32 GMT)

The Cable News Network

New Delhi has demanded that Pakistan halt cross-border militant incursions into India before it would make any major moves towards resuming full ties. On Wednesday Sinha emphasized that the "war against terrorism" would continue against the Islamic militants who are fighting against Indian control in the Himalayan territory.

NEW DELHI, India -- CNN
Pakistan has given a mixed reaction to India's offer to restore air links and sporting ties as part of a new initiative to revive the stalled peace process with its nuclear-armed neighbor.

Islamabad said the proposal on travel and cricket and opening more visa offices were positive steps -- but said Pakistan was disappointed at India's failure to go further by including negotiations on Kashmir.

Announcing India's moves on Wednesday, Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said the measures designed to restore contacts and reunite divided families would also involve a new bus service linking the capitals of Indian- and Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

He added that India's No. 2 leader would meet with the Kashmiri separatists New Delhi has shunned for 13 years. (Full story)

Ties between the two bitter nuclear foes deteriorated to the brink of war last year over what India said was Pakistani support for Islamic militants carrying out terrorist attacks on Indian soil -- a charge Pakistan denies.

But tensions have eased since Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee offered a "hand of friendship" to Pakistan in April.

In Islamabad, a Pakistan Foreign Ministry statement said the proposals to restore travel links, sports competition and to open visa offices outside the capitals "will receive serious consideration by Pakistan."

"Any proposal that is substantive and unconditional and genuinely designed to improve relations will, as always, be positive," said the statement.
(More: CNN.com)
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Dan