M A I N   N E W S

PM may visit Pak

Bangalore, October 20
Defence Minister George Fernandes today indicated that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would attend the 12th SAARC Summit in January in Islamabad, but ruled out the immediate resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan, saying cross-border terrorism had not stopped.

Fernandes rules out early talks with Pak

Bangalore, October 20
Mr George Fernandes, today ruled out any early dialogue with Pakistan on resumption of normal ties since cross-border terrorism was still continuing.

Talking to newspersons here, he said “At the moment there is no possibility of any kind of a dialogue because cross-border terrorism has not stopped”. Mr Fernandes said terrorism was continuing in the valley and the government would continue its war against it.

Stating that there was no change in the situation in the Indo-Pak border, he said one good thing that had happened was the conduct of free and fair poll in Jammu and Kashmir, about which the whole world was concerned. Despite all blood shedding due to terrorist attacks, the state witnessed a fair election.

Rejecting the criticism that the government had started de-escalation of troops due to international pressure, he said “whoever says it, is out of mind”. The government had started the measure to redeploy the troops and “I am happy Pakistan has reciprocated it” he added. UNI