New Delhi, March 9
The Union Home Minister, Mr Lal Krishna Advani, today laid down a five-point charter of demands for holding talks with Pakistan.

The Home Minister said the five points were: dismantle all training camps and stop training terrorists; stop financial aid to terrorists including announcement of reward to ‘jehadis’; stop arming, abetting and harbouring terrorists; stop infiltration from the LoC and International Border as such things are not possible without the help of the government; and hand over the 20 terrorists whose names have been given by India.

Ruling out any negotiation on these issues, Mr Advani said Islamabad had again sent an invitation to New Delhi for holding talks and negotiate through the country’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms Sushma Swaraj, who is there to attend a SAARC meet.

“There is no question of negotiation of these issues,” Mr Advani categorically stated and added that “Islamabad finds itself isolated internationally and has time and again been urging India to hold talks”.

Stating that India was not ready to accept Pakistan’s claims on any of the issues after its bitter experience of Kargil after extending a hand of friendship in Lahore, Mr Advani said: “Islamabad should first hand over the 20 terrorists demanded by New Delhi as they include those involved in the Mumbai blast and the IC 814 hijacking case.”

The claims of Pakistan on other counts would take time, but the handing over of these terrorist would be “for everyone to see”, he said. On the recent incident in Godhra, Mr Advani said he would give a detailed statement in Parliament.

The Home Minister said the BJP would continue to raise the nationalistic interest even though the party had agreed on a common minimum programme.