M A I N   N E W S

Advani rules out talks with Pak

Bangalore, January 18
India has made it clear to the international community that there would be no talks with Pakistan unless it abandoned the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said today.

“Pakistan must abandon the use of terrorism as an instrument of policy. It must dismantle the structure of terrorism it has created within its own country,” Mr Advani told reporters here.

Pakistan aiding and abetting terrorism has been testified from the fact that even Al-Qaida and Taliban have moved into that country, he said.

“Unless it (Pakistan) does that (dismantling of structure of terrorism), we see no point in holding talks and this stand has been made clear even to the international community,” he said.

Apparently referring to suggestions made by some countries to India to resume dialogue with Pakistan, Mr Advani said “it is our feeling that most of them appreciate that India’s stand is justified after all that has happened in recent times.”

A conducive atmosphere did not exist for renewing dialogue with Pakistan in the light of what was happening in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Recalling the gesture by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in undertaking the Lahore trip and also inviting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to Agra, Mr Advani said these initiatives had proved that India “earnestly and honestly” wants peace and harmony with the neighbouring country.

Mr Advani said, in this context, the stand taken by the Government was understood by every one. PTI