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K J M Varma in Islamabad
In an apparent change in its stand, Pakistan on Saturday offered to hold military-level talks with India for withdrawal of Pakistani troops from the border first, followed by de-induction of Indian troops later.
The political and psychological tensions that prevailed between India and Pakistan a few months ago were defused due to efforts by friendly countries, Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar told a group of Indian reporters in Islamabad.
"If necessary, there could be military-level talks between New Delhi and Islamabad for the withdrawal of Pakistan forces from the borders first followed by India," he said.
Asked why Pakistan on its own should not withdraw its troops first, he said this was not possible in view of the prevailing 'mistrust' between the two countries.
"Withdrawal of troops by one country could tempt the other side to take an aggressive action," he said.
Pakistan had earlier proposed for a simultaneous withdrawal of troops by both the countries to be followed by commencement of bilateral talks on contentious issues, including Kashmir.
Sattar's offer of talks for de-induction of Pakistan troops followed Friday's surprise invitation by Interior Minister Moinudeen Haider to Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani to visit Islamabad to sort out all contentious issues.
Sattar said that as a result of efforts by some influential mutual friends from the international community, tensions between India and Pakistan came down at the political and psychological level.
"But the residual part of the crisis, which was the deployment of troops at the borders remains to be resolved," he said.
Asked who helped to bring down tensions between India and Pakistan, he said leaders of the United States, Britain and Canada were involved in hectic efforts to defuse tensions between the two countries.
"We need to move forward and bring the troops back to peaceful locations," he said, adding that both the countries should make an effort to understand each other's concerns and address them accordingly.
Describing the present military and political tensions between the two countries as 'unfortunate', Sattar said, "Very serious issues divides both the countries, which could be resolved only by a give-and-take attitude."
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