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We won't authenticate troop positions in Siachen: Pak

Source: PTI
June 20, 2007 17:51 IST
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Pakistan has ruled out authentication of troop positions in Siachen, rejecting India's condition for resolution of the vexed issue.

"Repetition of a rigid position that Pakistan has already rejected is not going to be of any help and will lead to nowhere," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said.

She was reacting to Defence Minister A K Antony's statement on Monday that Pakistan would have to authenticate the 'actual ground position line" in Siachen before any further move could be made to settle the issue.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had proposed two years ago that the icy heights of Siachen in Jammu and Kashmir be demilitarised and converted into a 'mountain of peace'.

However, before undertaking demilitarisation, New Delhi has been insisting on 'iron-clad' authentication by Islamabad of the present troop positions of the two countries as it is wary of a repeat of Kargil experience when Pakistani troops captured mountain heights vacated by India in winter.

Pakistan's reluctance to authenticate has prevented any move in talks over the issue.

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