Report: Pakistan & India Just Enjoy Bilateral Talks over Kashmir

Report: Pakistan & Inda Just Enjoy Bilateral Talks over Kashmir

December 1, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC—The Council of Foreign Relations published a report Friday evening revealing what the international community has long suspected: The governments of India & Pakistan simply enjoy bilateral talks on the status of Kashmir. "

After years of protracted talks about kashmiris right for self-determination, status of PoK, cross-border terrorism and withdrawal of Indian troops from Indian-held Kashmir, it's become increasingly evident that India & Pakistan's inability to move forward on the Kashmir dispute and their constant reversion to age-old standspoints stem from a deep desire to chat about Kashmir" said Ambassador Robert B. Oakley, former chief of Strategic Studies Institute.

"We are beginning to think that behind all this brinksmanship, diplomatic, military & nuclear standoffs, threats and counterthreats are a dozen high-level career bureaucrats, diplomats, defence analysts and politicians who enjoy getting together, kicking back, enjoying iftaar parties and making a weekend out of it." Although India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made no comment on the report, members of his cabinet said they "would be delighted" to get together and discuss the matter further.