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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani contended that India had hardened its position on the Siachen issue, especially compared to the situation in 1989, when the two sides were "close to a resolution".
Speaking to the media during a visit to a high-altitude army camp in Siachen sector that was hit by an avalanche on April 7, Kayani indicated that India had toughened its stance on the issue and there had been "some kind of regression".
He reiterated that there should be "a peaceful resolution of the issue".
"We were close to a resolution in 1989 when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi came to Pakistan. It didn't materialise. I don't want to go into technicalities. There have been several meetings," Kayani said.
"At the last Defence Secretary-level meeting, there was some kind of regression. Because the term used earlier was authentication but in the last meeting, the Indian side said they want demarcation of the LoC ( Line of Control)," he added.
"Having said this, we still have to talk. There is nothing like a peaceful resolution. The best thing is a peaceful resolution but short of that, we will do what we are supposed to do," the army chief said while responding to questions.
"It takes two hands to clap," he added. Asked about the Indian response to his comments last month about the demilitarisation of Siachen, Kayani said his remarks were "received positively except for some ifs and buts, but that is understandable because there have to be CBMs between the two countries and then we have to move forward. Let's hope we can move forward."
In Pakistan, he said, there was support "across the board" for what he had said.
India has hardened its stand on Siachen, says Pak army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani - The Economic Times
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-47264-India-has-toughened-stance-on-Siachen
Speaking to the media during a visit to a high-altitude army camp in Siachen sector that was hit by an avalanche on April 7, Kayani indicated that India had toughened its stance on the issue and there had been "some kind of regression".
He reiterated that there should be "a peaceful resolution of the issue".
"We were close to a resolution in 1989 when Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi came to Pakistan. It didn't materialise. I don't want to go into technicalities. There have been several meetings," Kayani said.
"At the last Defence Secretary-level meeting, there was some kind of regression. Because the term used earlier was authentication but in the last meeting, the Indian side said they want demarcation of the LoC ( Line of Control)," he added.
"Having said this, we still have to talk. There is nothing like a peaceful resolution. The best thing is a peaceful resolution but short of that, we will do what we are supposed to do," the army chief said while responding to questions.
"It takes two hands to clap," he added. Asked about the Indian response to his comments last month about the demilitarisation of Siachen, Kayani said his remarks were "received positively except for some ifs and buts, but that is understandable because there have to be CBMs between the two countries and then we have to move forward. Let's hope we can move forward."
In Pakistan, he said, there was support "across the board" for what he had said.
India has hardened its stand on Siachen, says Pak army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani - The Economic Times
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-47264-India-has-toughened-stance-on-Siachen