M A I N   N E W S

Peace talks with Pak unlikely to resume
Ashok Tuteja & Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
With Defence Minister AK Antony directly blaming the Pakistan Army for the killing on Indian soldiers along the LOC on Thursday, early resumption of the third round of dialogue between the two countries is ruled out.

India in unlikely to respond any time soon to Pakistan's proposal to hold talks on the Tulbul Navigation Project between the Water Resources Secretaries of the two countries toward the end of this month. Asked if the talks had been put on hold, sources said New Delhi had not communicated to Pakistan its decision on Islamabad's proposal so far and was unlikely to do so in the coming days.

In fact, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also come under renewed pressure to cancel his proposed meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York in September after the direct involvement of the Pakistan Army in the killing of five Indian soldiers came to light. The PMO has taken note of Sharif's renewed desire to hold talks with Dr Singh in New York. ''There is still a lot of time before the PM visits New York...let's wait,'' sources said when asked about the comments made by Sharif today.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khushid evaded a direct reply when asked in interviews to TV channels whether Dr Singh would hold talks with Sharif in New York. ''Not in a position today to say anything because this is not the time or appropriate atmosphere in which we should be discussing talks. There will be a lot of work necessary if we are to talk... but will it be conducive, we need to look at it,'' he said.

The sense in South Block is that while the dialogue could be put on hold, Dr Singh avoiding a meeting with Sharif in New York would only add to the tension between the two countries and further weaken the civilian government in Pakistan viz-a-viz the Army.

With the Defence Minister's latest statement on the killings, the BJP said the issue was "closed" for the saffron party but insisted that the PM should not hold talks with Sharif.

Taking credit for "saving the country from the embarrassment"caused after "contradictory statements" issued by the Defence Minister AK Antony and the Army, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said: "As a responsible Opposition, it is our duty to bring the government back on track when it gets derailed. We have only played our role. The Defence Minister's mistake would have been harmful for the nation. There is no question of giving any benefit of doubt to Pakistan."