Jammu Tawi, December 4: India has no hesitation in Iran's offer for mediating on the Kashmir issue between Islamabad and New Delhi provided Iran is able to extract a commitment from Pakistan that it will fulfil the conditions laid down by New Delhi for the resumption of bilateral dialogue.
India's commitment to peace in the south Asian region is its desire but New Delhi does not want to bow before Pakistan for seeking its assistance in promoting peace in the region. New Delhi is said to have conveyed to Iran that first of all Pakistan should stop using its soil for exporting terror to India. It has to stop ceasefire violations and the consequent support to infiltrators trying to cross the LOC and the IB in Jammu and Kashmir. Above all it should order a crackdown on various terrorists' outfits operating in Pakistan. Secondly Islamabad should put top extremists, including Azahar Masood and Hafiz Syeed in prisons so that they are not able to foment anti-India feelings among the people in Pakistan. In addition to this the moral, material and diplomatic support given by Pakistan to Kashmiri separatists and militants, operating in Jammu and Kashmir, should stop. And these very militants, trained in arms camps in Pakistan and Occupied Kashmir and the separatists have vitiated the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir by triggering violence and turmoil. A situation has reached when the turmoil and tension on the IB and on the LOC has been increased because of repeated ceasefire violations by Pak troops. Without these conditions fulfilled India was not prepared to reopen the channels of dialogue whether Iran or any other country tries to mediate on the Kashmir issue. (KIP)
