The government appears to be uneasy at the trend of political and strategic affairs comments from the US and Europe over the last few days. There is an apprehension that these could pave the way for attempts from the West to push a formula for the resolution of the Kashmir problem that could lead ultimately to independence, albeit partial, for the disputed area.
In keeping with its unease, the government reacted with caution yesterday to US President Bill Clinton's report to the US Congress, which comments adversely on the progress of non-proliferation objectives vis-a-vis the subcontinent.
The report had stated in a critical vein that India appeared to be heading for the development of nuclear weapons. A spokesperson of the ministry of external affairs referred to the satisfaction that both sides had expressed after eight rounds of talks between the US and India upto January this year and stated that "these talks are predicated on India's maintaining a minimum credible nuclear deterrent."
The government has also been uneasy about some of the conversations that a group of Western, mainly European Union, diplomats, had in Srinagar during a recent visit. There were indications that they were seeking some solution to the problem there that would resemble independence for the valley and some other portion of the undivided state.
There have been reports in influential Srinagar-based newspapers that the West wants to pave the way for a period of relative autonomy for the valley, the portion of Jammu beyond Ramban and the Muzzaffarabad and Mirpur areas in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The rest of Jammu and the Ladakh region woul
