Kuldip Nayar's June 20 assertion in Islamabad that India-Pakistan relations could not progress as long as Pakistan continued to sponsor cross border terrorism has sparked off angry reactions in Pakistan.  

Nayar is leading a six-member parliamentary delegation on a nine-day, three-city tour of Pakistan.

At a gathering in Islamabad organized by the Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy, Nayar asserted that the Pakistani establishment -- including its army, Inter Services Intelligence and jihadis -- was not sincere in forging peace with India. While some intelligence operatives in civvies and officials from government-backed think tanks like the Institute of Policy Studies were present at the gathering, no one from the foreign ministry was present.

"I was inside Parliament on December 13  [2001] when it was echoing with the sound of bullets. We feared for our lives. Incidents like December 13 should not take place," Nayar said, expressing fears that radical Islamists could mastermind similar attacks to derail the peace process.

Nayar's remarks on CBT in Islamabad, and earlier in Lahore, annoyed many in Pakistan.

Sana Ullah Baloch, a senator from the Balochistan National Party, felt Nayar had slapped Pakistan's face in Pakistan by talking of CBT in Islamabad. "The Pakistani establishment should take a serious notice of his remarks. If there is really something like cross border terrorism, the establishment should end it or it should clarify its position at every forum."

In a June 19 editorial, Nawa-i-Waqt described Nayar as 'cunning, well-informed and intellectual.' Nawa-i-Waqt is the oldest Urdu publication in Pakistan, and Nayar has a weekly column in its sister publication, The Nation.  

'His sympathies with human beings can't be questioned but when he is influenced by a particular Hindu mentality and Hindutva patriotism, he ignores the key issue that has sown the seeds of hatred between the two countries -- the Kashmir issue,' the editorial said.

But the newspaper hailed Nayar's patriotism and compared the Indian veteran with Pakistani peace activist Dr Mubashir Hassan. 

'Nayar is thousand times more patriotic when compared to Hassan who demonizes Pakistan in India. Whereas Nayar comes to Pakistan and vociferously forwards his government's and Hindutva's agenda. He speaks from the mouth of Nehru and Vajpayee on the issue of Kashmir. He has never tried to make his government realize that there is a UN resolution on the issue of Kashmir that should be respected,' the editorial said.

Nayar's claims to have given 55 years of his life for peace between India and Pakistan was questioned. 'Nayarsaheb has not spearheaded any campaign to contain the extremism of the Indian government and propel the plebiscite in Kashmir. His assertion that he has no solution for Kashmir is totally unacceptable. He is a person who influences public opinion in India. It is unfortunate and sad he is acting as a mouthpiece of the Indian Foreign Office and harping on the cliche, Kashmir atoot ang,' the paper said.

The editorial commended the Indian MPs for safeguarding their country's national interests during their visit to Pakistan, and condemned Pakistani intellectuals for spitting venom against Pakistan during their visits to India. 'Pakistanis should learn from Kuldip Nayar. How cleverly he is using the Track II forum to further Indian objectives. Dhanyavad Maharaj, Dhanyavad!'

Responding to Nayar's comments at a lunch hosted by Sherry Rehman, the Pakistan People's Party member of the national assembly asked the Indian MPs to tell their government to demilitarize Kashmir and explore the 'cause-and-effect' relationship on the insurgency in Kashmir.

Demanding access to the valley for human rights organizations, independent observers and journalists, Rehman asked, 'Why can't the Indians accept independent monitors along the Line of Control?' Endorsing a trilateral solution to Kashmir, since the Kashmiris were the major stakeholders, she said she was frustrated by the zero gender balance and inability of two BJP MPs to join the Indian delegation.

Only six of the scheduled 12 Indian MPs actually made it to Pakistan, with the others, including two women, pulling out at the last minute. 'The female MPs were not allowed by their husbands to visit India,' was Nayar's explanation.

Rehman did not miss the opportunity to score a point. 'This is funny. My husband did not stop me (from visiting India recently). And this is happening in the world's largest democracy.'

Asked whether he -- as a politician -- believed Pakistan was sponsoring cross border terrorism, Sana Ullah Baloch replied: "As politicians we are never given any respect or importance. We are never given decision-making powers. Such serious issues are never discussed with Pakistani parliamentarians. We have been condemned to live in darkness, therefore, we don't know what's happening in the open."

Dawn columnist Ayaz Amir perceived the group of Indian MPs as "lacklustre." "This is not a parliamentary delegation. It has no representation from the BJP. It is a 'below par' delegation received by a very narrow spectrum of Pakistani intelligentsia. I don't think it could make a great difference," he said.

Countering Nayar's CBT concerns, Amir maintained: "The Indians can't deny that the Kashmiris are fighting for freedom and paying the price in terms of their lives. Nobody can stop Palestinians fighting for their freedom but if Syrians, Iranians and Jordanians start fighting for them with the conviction to bring Israel to the negotiating table, then the whole enterprise becomes doubtful. Similarly, if ISI and jihadis from Lashkar and Jaish fight for the Kashmiris, then India would raise this issue. The Pakistani establishment will have to understand that the ISI and jihadi involvement in Kashmir has achieved nothing."

Amir wanted both the Indian and Pakistani leadership to desist from rhetoric and "nonsense" like Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's threat of a fourth defeat to Pakistan and President Pervez Musharraf's refusal to rule out another Kargil. "Such words should not be uttered by both sides. We need to understand that jihad will not be allowed anymore. The climate for it has ceased to exist and we can't afford to cling to it," he said.

In Islamabad, the Indian delegation met Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri; a dinner was hosted for the MPs by Acting President Mian Mohammad Soomro. Musharraf is now in the US. Another dinner was hosted by PPP MP Chaudhary Aitzaz Ahsan.