Navtej Sarna
Counsellor (Press & Information)
(202) 939-7042
Press Release issued by
the External Affair Ministry
on the decision of the International court of
Justice
in the aerial incident case filed by Pakistan against India
New Delhi
June 21, 2000
Government
of India welcomes the decision of the International court of Justice in
the Aerial Incident case filed by Pakistan against India regarding the
shooting down of a military combat aircraft of Pakistan (Atlantique) over
Indian air space on August 10, 1999, With a decisive 14-2 verdict, the
Court has upheld India's submission that it had no jurisdiction in this
matter.
India
also welcomes the Court's observations regarding the Simla Agreement and
the Lahore Declaration. Through its comments, the court has vindicated
India's stand on these landmark agreements that are the very cornerstone
of India-Pakistan relations. It is noteworthy that the Simla Agreement
commits both countries to building trust and confidence, putting in place
a stable structure of cooperation and addressing all outstanding issues
through peaceful bilateral discussions. That is what India had sought to
accomplish through the composite dialogue process that was established at
our initiative. That was also the high purpose, for which Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee traveled to Lahore in February 1999. India stands
committed to dialogue and calls on Pakistan to create the proper
environment for such a dialogue through cessation of cross border
terrorism and the abandonment of hostile propaganda. |
