The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, June 10, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

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Advani sees shift in Pak stand
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 9
The Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, today hoped the talks between the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan military administrator, Gen Pervez Musharraf, next month would yield some positive results because after the Kargil conflict there was a shift in the attitude of Pakistan which had reiterated its commitment to Simla Agreement and Lahore Declaration.

Mr Advani, who was talking to mediapersons here, said so far General Musharraf had been criticising Lahore Declaration and never spoke of the Simla Agreement but now there was a positive change in his stand.

He, however, made it clear he would not like to create an atmosphere of “false optimism” about the summit because the problems which were existing for the past 50 years could not be expected to have “quick-fix” solutions. A little progress in the talks should also be seen as a positive step as this was a resumption of dialogue which had broken about 18 months ago. He hoped Pakistan would reciprocate in the spirit in which Mr Vajpayee had taken the initiative of inviting General Musharraf for talks.
He said the manner in which General Musharraf snubbed the Muslim clergy and fundamentalists was also a positive sign and the reaction of the Lashkar-e-Toiba indicated its concern about the summit.

The Home Minister said the government had taken a stand that it would not talk to Pakistan till it made an earnest effort to create a congenial atmosphere and the invitation to Pakistan for talks was taken after some perceptible change was observed in its attitude

He said the Hurriyat was a part and parcel of Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre wanted to consult all concerned, including the National Conference, the BJP, the Congress, Kashmiri Pandits, Mufti Sayed, the people of Jammu and Ladakh on the kind of set-up they wanted to have. The Hurriyat leaders were released from jails to create a congenial atmosphere so that they could talk to the government. It had been made clear ever since the Hurriyat had been demanding that it should be allowed to talk to Pakistan that the Centre would talk to Pakistan whenever it was decided to do so.

He said the organisations which do not want peace between India and Pakistan were not only against India, but were also critical of General Musharraf.

Mr Advani said the summit between the two countries was a step forward in the initiative that Mr Vajpayee had taken by travelling to Lahore in a bus in 1999. Such initiatives were taken in the spirit of Simla Agreement which stressed for bilateral talks on Kashmir instead of international forums. Friendly relation between India and Pakistan were in the interest of both countries.

Mr Advani said the Cabinet Committee on Security while deciding not to extend the “non-initiation of combat operations” (NICO) after reviewing the overall situation suggested that direct talks should be held with Pakistan. The security forces have resumed the pro-active stance against militants and it has yielded positive results.