New Delhi: Ahead of India-Pakistan Defence Secretary level talks in Islamabad on June 11-12, outgoing Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik today said there was no difference in opinion in Pakistan on demilitarisation of Siachen.
” Demilitarisation (of Siachen) is in our (India and Pakistan) mutual interests”, he told UNI in an interview.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has,however, stuck to India’s stated position on Siachen glacier that authentication of troops will be the first step towards the ultimate objective of demilitarisation of world’s highest battlefield.
The CCS, in its meeting held here yesterday, gave the nod for this stand to be taken during the Defence Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan.
Defence Minister AK Antony had also informed Parliament during the Budget Session that ”do not expect anything dramatic from the talks” and India’s stand on Siachen remains unchanged.
India wants Pakistan to agree to authenticate the troop positions and demarcate the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) on the map before taking steps to demilitarise the Siachen. However, Pakistan has refused to do so. Armies of both the countries are deployed there since 1984 and are observing ceasefire since 2003.
On former Pakistan Defence Minister Choudhary Ahmed Mukhtar’s opposition to demilitarisation of Siachen, Pakistan High Commissioner said his statement was taken out of context and misinterpreted.
Malik said Pakistan Army chief is for the demilitarisation of Siachen, adding, in fact, there is a consensus in his country to resolve all outstanding issues with India. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani talked of demilitarisation of Siachen when he visited the glacier in the aftermath of burying alive of 139 Pakistani soldiers in an avalanche in April.
Malik, who leaves India after five years of service here, said Kashmir and confidence building measures among other issues will be on the agenda when Foreign Secretary level talks between the two countries are held in New Delhi on June 29.
