GOI DOCUMENT: INDO-PAK PROPOSALS WHERE INDIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 007424

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2014
TAGS: PREL ETRD IN PK INDO PAK
SUBJECT: GOI DOCUMENT: INDO-PAK PROPOSALS WHERE INDIA
PERCIEVES HEEL DRAGGING

REF: NEW DELHI 7395

Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt, Reasons 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) During a November 19 meeting reviewing the agenda for
the upcoming Indo-Pak composite dialogue (reftel),MEA Joint
Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Arun K. Singh shared

SIPDIS
with us four papers outlining progress in the Indo-Pak
relationship since 2003, pending bilateral proposals,
unilateral Indian actions, and areas where India perceives
Pakistan to be dragging its feet. In the following paper,
the GOI highlights areas in which they are making overtures
and believe the GOP is not responding. These claims focus in
particular on the GOI perception that Islamabad has put the
brakes on people to people contacts.


2. (SBU) Begin Text GOI paper:

Release of Indian civilian prisoners in Pak jails


1. India has granted consular access to 50 Pak prisoners in
Indian custody and released 55 such prisoners in the period
October 2003-0ctober 2004. The release of 16 more Pakistani
civilian prisoners is being scheduled for November 9, 2004.
In comparison, Pakistan has granted consular access to only
18 Indian civilian prisoners and has released 38 prisoners in
the corresponding period. Consular access to a few more
Pakistani prisoners (around 30) is being planned in November

2004.

Visits by Indian pilgrims to religious shrines in Pakistan


1. Request for the visit of a jatha of 101 sikh pilgrims to
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on 15th April 2004 on the occasion
of 500th birth anniversary of Guru Angad Devji was not
responded to.


2. Request for the visit of a jatha (group) of 200 Sikh
pilgrims to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from 21 to 30 September
2004 to mark the occasion of Jyoti Jot Gurpub (the day Guru
Nanak Devji left for heavenly abode) was not responded to.


3. Request for the visit of a group of 500 Sikh pilgrims to
visit Gurdwara Chuna Mandi from October 6-10,2004 on the
occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Ramdas ji on 9 October
was not responded to.


4. Request for the visit of a group of 25 pilgrims to Rehan
Gaon, Ghotki from 22-25 October 2004 on the occasion of 140th
birth anniversary of Sant Satramdas Dham was not responded
to.


5. No response to our request for the visit of a group of 20
pilgrims to Shadani Darbar, Swami Narayan Mandir, Karachi and
other places from 6-18 December 2004.


6. The next Jatha of Indian pilgrims on the occasion Guru
Nanak Devji's birth anniversary will be visiting Pakistan
from 21-30 November 2004. We have proposed to increase the
number of pilgrims from the present agreed 3,000 to 5,000. A
formal approval is awaited.

Indian fishermen


1. Visas for a 9-member delegation from the Indian Fishermen
and Boat Association to visit Pakistan to undertake repairs
for 75 Indian boats to be used during repatriation of Indian
fishermen. (Matter pending since 25 May 2004).


2. Repatriation of 266 Indian fishermen whose nationality has
already been confirmed by HCI (High Commission of India),
Islamabad, has been delayed.


3. Consular access for the remaining 140 Indian fishermen
arrested between March and May 2004 and more than 100 Indian
fishermen arrested in September 2004 has not been granted.


4. Consular access for 6 Indian fishermen who had drifted
from Oman to Pakistan's territorial waters on 23 May 2004 and
detained by Pakistani authorities has not been granted.


5. We had inquired about one Indian Ship, Nigahe Hulk, with
six crew members, missing since June 2003 off the coast of
Iran/Pakistan. Iran has confirmed that they don't have any
information. We are awaiting a response.
General matters


1. Visa for 3 new Liaison Officers of DTC on Delhi-Lahore Bus
service pending from May, June and August 04.


2. Visas for a technical team to travel to Islamabad for
installation of CCTV in HCI (High Commission of India)
premises. (matter pending since March 2004)


3. Visa for security officer of Indian Airlines to visit
Karachi (matter pending for several months).
Recent Negative Developments
-- The Pakistan Ministry of Interior has not granted NOC for
holding "Made in India" Exhibition that was to be organized
in Lahore in October 2004 by FICCI and PCCI. The exhibition
had to be postponed.

-- The Resident Editor, Hindustan Times, Chandigarh, Kanwar
Sandhu, who was accompanying the Chief Minister of Haryana on
a goodwill visit to Pakistan, was deported by Pak
authorities.

-- The Pakistan Ministry of Commerce has reportedly declined
to issue NOC to the Petroleum Ministry of Pakistan for
importing diesel from India.

-- Some unidentified persons entered the house of Counselor
(Pol) in Islamabad on the midnight of 30 Sept 2004, when he
was away to Peshawar, and threatened his domestic help. This
appeared to be the work of the intelligence authorities.

-- There has been an increase in the intensity of
surveillance of officials over the last 10-12 weeks.

-- First Secretary (Com),High Commission of India (HCI),
Islamabad, was not granted permission to travel to Karachi to
accompany an Indian textile delegation.

--Counselor (Pol),HCI, Islamabad, was not granted permission
to travel to Naushera to attend the Jamaat-e-Isiami
convention.

-- The Naval Adviser's father, on a short visit to Pakistan,
was not granted permission to travel outside Islamabad.

(In contrast to the above, we have been liberal in grant of
visas / travel permission to PHC staff and families.)
End text.
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