As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, India will not redraw borders: Singh

From ANI

New Delhi, Nov. 22: Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has reiterated that there is no question of New Delhi considering a proposal to redraw the international boundary that separates Indian Kashmir and Pakistan Kashmir.

In an interview given to the Editor of Newsweek International, Fareed Zakaria, in CNN's Global Public Square (GPS) program here ahead of his four-day trip to Washington, Dr. Singh said: "I have publicly stated that there will be no redrawing of public borders. Our two countries can work together to ensure that peace is maintained, that trade is made free and ensure that encouragement is given for people-to-people contact.

India claims the entire former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and presently administers approximately 43 percent of the region, including most of Jammu, Kashmir Valley, Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier.

India's claim is contested by Pakistan which controls approximately 37 percent of Kashmir, mainly Azad Kashmir and the northern areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. China controls 20 percent of Kashmir, including Aksai Chin which it occupied following the brief Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Trans-Karakoram Tract, also known as the Shaksam Valley, that was ceded to it by Pakistan in 1963.

India's official position is that Kashmir is an "integral part" of India. Pakistan's official position is that Kashmir is a disputed territory whose final status must be determined by the people of Kashmir. Certain Kashmiri independence groups believe that Kashmir should be independent of both India and Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir: in 1947, 1965, and 1999.


Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com