03-26-2004, 04:36 AM
<b>Indo-Pak cricket goodwill stumbles on UN pitch </b>
Saurabh Shukla
New Delhi, March 25
The goodwill generated by Indo-Pak cricket does not seem to extend to diplomacy.
<b>Despite assurances to the contrary, Pakistan has raked up the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, leading to sharp exchanges between the two sides</b>.
Pakistan, which raised the issue at the UNHRCâs 60th session last week, questioned the legality of Kashmir's accession. The mention came during a session on self-determination for people under foreign occupation, sources said.
Making a statement on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Pakistan's ambassador to the UN at Geneva, Shauna Umber, made a strong pitch for Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
Diplomatic sources said the Pakistani envoy raised the prickly issue despite the thaw in ties and an unwritten agreement between the two foreign ministers to avoid raking up contentious issues at international fora.
The Indian side comprising foreign secretary Shashank, India's ambassador to the UN at Geneva Hardeep Puri and senior diplomats contested Pakistanâs charges.
Asserting that the Pakistani envoyâs remarks were unacceptable, they said J&K was an integral part of India and the OIC had no locus standi on the issue.
The Pakistanis again took to the floor and said they were âsurprisedâ by the Indian statement. They said Kashmir was a âdisputeâ that needed to be resolved.
The Indian delegation hit back, contesting the Pakistani statements. A reference was made to the successful elections in J&K.
<b>Sources said a furious Shashank is believed to have told the Indian envoy to go tough if the Pakistanis continued with their tirade.</b>
Diplomatic sources in Geneva told the Hindustan Times that the incident demonstrated Pakistan's negative mindset ahead of the peace talks.
External affairs minister Yashwant Sinha and national security advisor Brajesh Mishra have been apprised of the matter. Puri has formally protested to the Pakistani envoy.
Analysts said it was no coincidence that Pakistan's remarks came shortly after the US gave Islamabad major non-NATO ally status.
Pakistan, which was part of the US-backed CENTO and SEATO pacts during the Cold War, had used its diplomatic leverage at that time to take pot shots at India on Kashmir.
Saurabh Shukla
New Delhi, March 25
The goodwill generated by Indo-Pak cricket does not seem to extend to diplomacy.
<b>Despite assurances to the contrary, Pakistan has raked up the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, leading to sharp exchanges between the two sides</b>.
Pakistan, which raised the issue at the UNHRCâs 60th session last week, questioned the legality of Kashmir's accession. The mention came during a session on self-determination for people under foreign occupation, sources said.
Making a statement on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), Pakistan's ambassador to the UN at Geneva, Shauna Umber, made a strong pitch for Kashmiris' right to self-determination.
Diplomatic sources said the Pakistani envoy raised the prickly issue despite the thaw in ties and an unwritten agreement between the two foreign ministers to avoid raking up contentious issues at international fora.
The Indian side comprising foreign secretary Shashank, India's ambassador to the UN at Geneva Hardeep Puri and senior diplomats contested Pakistanâs charges.
Asserting that the Pakistani envoyâs remarks were unacceptable, they said J&K was an integral part of India and the OIC had no locus standi on the issue.
The Pakistanis again took to the floor and said they were âsurprisedâ by the Indian statement. They said Kashmir was a âdisputeâ that needed to be resolved.
The Indian delegation hit back, contesting the Pakistani statements. A reference was made to the successful elections in J&K.
<b>Sources said a furious Shashank is believed to have told the Indian envoy to go tough if the Pakistanis continued with their tirade.</b>
Diplomatic sources in Geneva told the Hindustan Times that the incident demonstrated Pakistan's negative mindset ahead of the peace talks.
External affairs minister Yashwant Sinha and national security advisor Brajesh Mishra have been apprised of the matter. Puri has formally protested to the Pakistani envoy.
Analysts said it was no coincidence that Pakistan's remarks came shortly after the US gave Islamabad major non-NATO ally status.
Pakistan, which was part of the US-backed CENTO and SEATO pacts during the Cold War, had used its diplomatic leverage at that time to take pot shots at India on Kashmir.