New Delhi, May 30
Seeing the opportunity to address the Defence Ministers of not only the Asia-Pacific region but also of some of the world powers on the prevailing security situation on the Indo-Pakistan border, Defence Minister George Fernandes has decided to go ahead with his visit tonight to Singapore to attend the Asia-Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting.
The Defence Minister is said to have changed his decision and to go ahead and attend the meeting apparently after Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee spoke to him. He was told by the Prime Minister that putting off his trip at this juncture would send wrong signals, official sources said.
Mr Fernandes had earlier cancelled his four-day official visit in view of the situation at the forward areas in Jammu and Kashmir which have witnessed heavy artillery duels for the past several days.
Besides, the Defence Minister’s presence was also required here in view of the frequent Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meetings. The CCS has been meeting almost on a daily basis to review the prevailing security scenario.
Mr Vajpayee, sources said, told Mr Fernandes that keeping in view the importance of the meeting, he should avail of the opportunity to brief the leaders on how Islamabad’s continued adamant stand on cross-border terrorism had brought about the border stand-off.
Besides ministers from Asia-pacific countries, Defence Ministers and officials from the USA, Russia, the UK and Canada will be attending the meeting to discuss regional security issues.
The event is being organised by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Affairs on the theme of “Security Scenario in Asia”.
India has been invited to attend the event for the first time while Pakistan has not been invited.
A Defence Ministry spokesman said besides attending the security meeting, Mr Fernandes would hold extensive bilateral meetings with his western counterparts.
