Kathmandu, January 2
Judging by indications available here, India might assiduously refrain from meeting Pakistan on the sidelines of the January 4-6 SAARC summit.

Despite mounting international pressure, especially by the major powers that India and Pakistan should resume the dialogue to lower the ante between the two South Asian neighbours, New Delhi remains firm that talks with Islamabad can only be resumed if Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism.

Authoritative Indian sources said External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh sought to steer clear of his Pakistani counterpart Abdul Sattar rather than give the slightest hint of getting into an Indo-Pak dialogue.

A Nepalese spokesperson, however, told mediapersons here this evening that Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr Sattar “shook hands and exchanged pleasantries” at the two-day meeting of the 22nd session of the SAARC Council of Ministers which began here this afternoon.

Senior officials forming part of the Indian delegation reaffirmed that the Vajpayee government’s stand on the issue of restarting talks with Pakistan remained unaltered, especially after the December 13 attack on Parliament House in New Delhi allegedly by Pakistan-based terrorists.

Indian spokesperson Nirupama Rao refused to comment whether Mr Jaswant Singh and Mr Sattar shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the 20-minute informal meeting of the SAARC foreign ministers, observing that she was not present there.

She was categoric in stating that Mr Jaswant Singh was primarily in Kathmandu to attend the session of the SAARC Council of Ministers and “this is a SAARC meeting.” It was apparent that India was keen to nip in the bud any speculation of an Indo-Pak dialogue taking place on the sidelines of the summit.

Responding to a pointed question about Pakistan seeking “proper evidence” to act against those contained in the list of terrorists provided by India, Ms Rao said, “We have heard this refrain from Pakistan before also. They (Pakistan) know what we (India) mean. India strongly wants the elimination of terrorists and cross-border terrorism directed against India. Pakistan continuing to repeat the same refrain does not amount to achieving any progress or reducing terrorism or dealing with this scourge which is affecting Indo-Pak relations.”