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Opposition
blames Govt for diplomatic failure NEW DELHI, July 19 : In first critical remarks after the Agra summit, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight said it appeared that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had come to the summit with the sole purpose of using it as a platform to air his views on the issue but he ruled out any change in policy on Kashmir issue. Speaking after the opposition parties attacked the Government for "lack of home work and a structured agenda", Vajpayee told an all-party meeting that it was now clear that Pakistan was not interested in discussing any issue except Kashmir and Musharraf exploited the oppotunity to publicise his views. He said NDA Government would not alter its policy on Kashmir adding Pakistan’s insistence on discussion only on this issue was unacceptable to India. The Prime Minister said he had accepted Musharraf’s invitation to visit Pakistan but dates were yet to be decided. NDA constituent Shiv Sena, however, asserted that he should not go to Pakistan and there should be no talks with that country till cross-border terrorism was put to an end. Summing up the opposition mood, Congress leader Manmohan Singh told reporters after the meeting that the summit did not have any structured agenda and this reinforced "our view that no groundwork was done for the summit." The opposition parties sought a number of clarifications from Vajpayee including the real reason for the failure of the summit and media management in projecting India’s view-point. Taking strong exception to Musharraf’s remark that what was happening in Kashmir was a "freedom struggle" and not cross-border terrorism Vajpayee said it was unfair to liken the situation in Palestine to the one prevailing in Kashmir. Vajpayee further told the opposition leaders that he made it clear to Musharraf that if he wanted to make Kashmir a core issue, he should be prepared to go back to 1947 and discuss the Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Mahajan said. The Prime Minister during his 20-minute speech was also critical of Musharraf trying to draw parallel between the Kargil conflict and the 1971 Bangladesh war recalling that Pakistan had sought to trample democracy in Bangladesh forcing thousands to seek refuge in India. Vajpayee said that Musharraf came to Agra with only one agenda to make Kashmir an issue and it became clear that Pakistan did not like Simla accord and Lahore declaration and was interested only in opening a "new chapter" from Agra. The opposition wanted the Government to have structured agenda as a pre-condition so that future talks with Islamabad did not fail, Mahajan said. At the outset Vajpayee reminded the leaders of political parties that as suggested by them in the pre-summit meeting, the Government remained firm on crucial issues of Kashmir and cross-border terrorism and it did not make any compromise. He told them that the summit was not a failure as the Government stood firmly on these issues on which there had been a national consensus. India strongly opposed Pakistan’s move to term Kashmir problem as a "dispute", avoid cross-border terrorism and discuss only Kashmir, he said. Vajpayee told them that he wanted Musharraf to take steps to ensure that no incident took place as both the countries were nuclear weapon states. The opposition was critical of the way in which the Indian media was briefed by the Government which resulted in the pubilicity of one-sided version, Mahajan said. The Prime Minister assured the participants that the Government was taking all measures to ensure that violence did not escalate in the Valley in view of the threats given by some militant outfits. Meanwhile, opposition parties today attacked Government for what it called its "diplomatic failure" in the Agra summit saying the Indian side did not have a "structured agenda" for the talks and had done no ground-work. At a 150 minute meeting of leaders of Parliamentary Parties convened by the Prime Minister, they favoured continuation of the dialogue process with Pakistan but said the Agra summit should be seen as "a lesson" for future talks. However, the Shiv Sena was opposed to any further talks with Islamabad until cross-border terrorism was stopped. "The summit did not have a structured agenda and this reinforced our earlier view that there was no homework or groundwork for the summit," leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Manmohan Singh told reporters. The opposition parties sought a number of clarifications from the Prime Minister including one on the "real reason" behind failure of the summit and media management in projecting the Indian point of view at the July 15-16 summit. Manmohan Singh said his Party president Sonia Gandhi had made a forceful plea that there should be a "structured agenda and sufficient preparations" for all future summits "drawing appropriate lessons from Agra". The main opposition party, the Left and other parties were of the view that dialogue should continue, whether in Islamabad or on the sidelights of the UN General Assembly. However, Shiv Sena leader Anant Geete opposed continuation of talks saying "there was no point if Pakistan continued to aid and abet cross-border terrorism.... When the summit was on, violence in Jammu and Kashmir had increased." CPI-M and CPI leaders S Ramachandran Pillai and J Chittaranjan also criticised the Government for not making enough preparations with the latter saying the "Indian delegation did not appear unified." They said a solution to the Kashmir issue could be found only through dialogue and that Vajpayee should continue the process in Islamabad. "You cannot base diplomacy on a blank paper..... It was a diplomatic failure," Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh said. He was also critical of "the way in which a dictator like Musharraf exploited the Indian hospitality and got legitimacy". TDP leader K Yerrannaidu cautioned the Government against treating the Agra summit as a closed chapter, saying this will spread misunderstandings. He urged the Government to take the people of the country into confidence through appropriate means and said failure in coming out with a joint declaration at Agra was an indication of the complexity of the situation which all the more warranted the engagement process to be continued. AIADMK leader P H Pandian alleged there was "no pre-summit preparation" and said Government should take "hard decisions" in fighting militancy. While RJD and BSP did not attend the meeting, among others present included P A Sangma (NCP), D P Yadav (JD-U), Abani Roy (RSP), Ali Mohd Naik and Sharifuddin Shariq (NC), Amar Roy Pradhan (Forward Bloc), S S Dhindsa (SAD), S K Indora (Inld), E Ponnuswamy (PMK), A Krishnaswamy (DMK) and Digvijay Singh (Samata). The Government side was represented by Home Minister L K Advani, Defence and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan. (PTI) |
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Youths curse militants,
Pak for miseries Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 19: Seven fresh Kashmiri recruits including two students of a private engineering college—SSM College, Pattan—have been rescued by army from Pir Panjal range of Surankot tehsil in Poonch district when they were being forcibly taken across the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training. The engineering students were re-united with their fathers by army this morning while five other youths are expected to be re-united with their families shortly. Rescued youths, who were produced before newsmen at Nagrota this morning by Col Naveen Chopra, have been identified as Bilal Ahmed Parrey son of Ghulam Nabi Parrey and Shaffi-ul-Islam son of Mohi-ud-Din Mir, both engineering students, both residents of Malangpura, Pulwama, Mushtaq Ahmed Naik, a labourer, Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, an orphan and a matador conductor, Javed Ahmed Mir, Mohd Amir Lone, all residents of Tral and Mohd Shaffi Parrey, a resident of Shopian. Except for two engineering students, all others were either matador conductors or were working as labourers. All of them told newsmen that they were kidnapped by a same group of militants but from different places and lodged in a hideout before being taken to Surankot through Pir Panjal range for their onwards journey to Pakistan. They managed to escape from the militants’ captivity after four days of trekking in treacherous hilly areas and reported at army installations between June 20 to 25. They spent six to 10 days as hostages. Two engineering students (BE IInd year) Bilal Ahmed Parrey and Shaffi-ul-Islam told newsmen that they had gone to picnic at Sher Bagh, Anantnag. "We were enjoying the excursion when suddenly the masked militants appeared at the Bagh, packed off us in a TATA Sumo vehicle and whisked us away", they said. Infact, all the youths were kidnapped in a similar fashion and in the same TATA Sumo vehicle which clearly indicated that only one militant group was involved in the kidnappings. Mushtaq Ahmed Mir was an orphan and was working as a matador conductor in Saidabad, Pulwama to feed his younger brother. He said on June 16 evening, the militants travelling in TATA Sumo and wearing army uniforms, intercepted his matador and asked him to show his identity card. "As soon as I brought out my identity card, I was pushed in Sumo and whisked away", he recalled. He was worried about the fate of his orphan brother, who he had last seen on June 23 morning. However, he was all praise for army, which not only rescued him but has also promised to re-unite him with his brother. Mohd Mir Lone was also a matador conductor. "My father was seriously ill when I was kidnapped. I made repeated appeals to the militants to let me go for attending my ailing father but they refused to show any mercy", he said. Lone was told by the militants that he will go to ‘jannat’ (heaven) if he was killed with Indian army bullets while fighting for ‘jehad’. "I’m sure the militants are misleading the youths to please their masters", he asserted. Meanwhile, Ghulam Nabi Parrey and Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir, fathers of two engineering students, were highly critical of the militants for trying to spoil the career of their kins, who were in second year of BE in SSM College of Pattan. "We wanted to make our wards the engineers while Pakistan-sponsored militants tried to spoil their future by attempting to take them across the LoC for making them militants. They are not the ‘jehadis’ but bloody puppets in the hands of their foreign masters", they observed. They said the killings and kidnappings of innocent youths especially the students can’t be termed as ‘jehadis’. They were all praise for army for re-uniting their kins with the families. They assured army that they will expose the militants before public. Mohi-ud-Din Mir said they came to know from an Urdu newspaper of June 21 that his son Shaffi-ul-Islam has been rescued by troops in Surankot. He soon got in touch with army. Mir also criticised Pakistan for kidnappings of innocent boys. Calling for co-ordial relations between India and Pakistan so that Kashmiri people could live in peace, the rescued boys, however, regretted that not much headway could be made in this direction at Agra summit. |
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Ex-militant,
truck-driver killed in Shopian Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 19: Security forces and Special Operations Group (SOG) eliminated two foreign militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba, in an encounter at Naik Bagh, in Nowgam outskirts of the capital city this evening. Unidentified gunmen have shot dead a former militant while as a truck-driver has died in last evening’s gunbattle at Bemnipora, Shopian, with three militants and an SOG constable. Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that on the basis of a specific information, troops of SOG Baramulla (Waripora Tangmarg camp) and Rashtriya Rifles 02 Bn, raided a militant hideout at Naik Bagh, Nowgam, here this evening. According to the tip off, two foreigners of Lashkar-e-Toiba were present at the house of one Abdul Gaffar Gujri. As the troops and SOG men laid siege to the target house and a reinforcement of BSF 51 Bn also joined the operation, militants opened gunfire and made unsuccessful attempts to escape. In the one-hour-long gunbattle, troops destroyed a portion of the target house, killing both the militants on spot. Their identification was not available immediately. Eyewitnesses said that one of the slain militants seemed to be Sudanese but officials maintained that both of them may be Pakistani nationals. Two AK-56 rifles, 10 hand grenades and a quantity of ammunition and assortments were recovered from the spot. Officials were certain that both the militants could be members of Lashkar-e-Toiba. Reports from Kupwara said that troops of 8-Grenadiers eliminated an unidentified militant of Al-Badr, in an ambush, at Shondi Kalaroos. He too seemed to be a Pakistani national. Reports from south Kashmir said that unidentified gunmen appeared at Jamnagri village and shot dead a former militant, namely Mohammad Ashraf Khan S/o Ali Mohammad Khan, at 8.00 p.m this evening. Residents held the pro-Government militants and local helpers of security forces responsibility for the killing and took out a protest demonstration at Shopian. Earlier, today, residents of Bemnipora and adjoining areas put up a demonstration against the killing of a truck driver last evening. Three militants, one constable of SOG Shopian and the truck-driver had died in last evening’s gunbattle at Bemnipora. Even as, last evening, Police sources had confirmed the death of four militants and a constable, this afternoon it became clear that only three militants as also a truck-driver, Abdul Hameed of Nowgam Shopian, had died alongwith a constable of SOG in the encounter. Officials today identified the two militants killed in yesterday’s Iddgah "encounter" as Sikandar alias Shahid alias Abu Shaheen of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Mohammad Yusuf Lone S/o Abdul Hameed Lone of Pulwama. Two AK-56 rifles and 20 hand grenades are claimed to have been recovered from the spot. While as residents maintained that the two militants were captured from a car and killed in a fake encounter, officials said that SOG Handwara and Army killed the duo in an encounter at Iddgah. Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen appeared at Islamia College branch of Jammu & Kashmir Bank and looted cash worth Rs 4,20,000-00 from the counter. They managed to escape. |
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J&K Govt says no to increase number of Amarnath yatris NEW DELHI, July 19: Jammu and Kashmir Government today threw up its hands in the Delhi High Court against permitting of more than 3,500 Amarnath pilgrims beyond Jammu every day, saying it was not able to make arrangements for so many Yatris due to security reasons and bad weather. Placing before the court a communication between J and K Secretary (Tourism) at Srinagar and Director Tourism stationed at Jammu, State Government counsel Anis Suhrawardy said it was impossible for authorities to let more than 3,500 Yatris go beyond Jammu now due to security reasons and bad weather. According to the communication, a major cloudburst had taken place near Nunwaan late July 16 night posing a threat to proper arrangements. There was five to six inch deep water at Nunwaan though the cloudburst did not cause any casualties as it was away from the camp site, it said. On permitting 1.05 lakh Yatris this year as compared to 1.73 lakh last year, the Government said last year weather was normal while this time there was an early snowfall. The Government counsel said in view of the militant attack on a Yatri camp last year, the State Government had imposed certain restrictions this time. As a bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Justice D K Jain wanted to pass some interim directions on a petition seeking quashing of Government’s order on certain restrictions, petitioner’s counsel Randhir Jain said a comprehensive direction on all issues raised in the writ should be issued. Following this, the court adjourned the hearing to August 16. The State Government, in its affidavit earlier, had said it could not provide security for higher number of pilgrims as there was threat of militant atttacks and safety against the inclement weather. "Even the existing number is on the higher side and difficult to handle," it said. The issue was brought before the court by the Amarnath Welfare Board, a private organistion, which sought quashing of the State Government order for compulsory registration of Yatris at seven specified centres across the country. The order said Yatris without registration would not be allowed to go beyond Jammu. The board’s counsel sought direction to the State Government to provide assistance to voluntary organisations to set up camps enroute and provide basic facilities like sanitation, water and generators at camp sites and near the holy Amarnath cave to help the pilgrims. The State Government said the restriction had been imposed as a sequel to the reports of two "very high powered" inquiry committees, the most recent one headed by the Corps Commnder (GOC-15 Corps) who is also the security advisor to the State Government. "This year, there are concrete intelligence reports that the militants would try to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra at various points, including Jammu and Pahalgam," the affidavit said. (PTI) |
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Trikuta Nagar double
murder solved Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 19: Trikuta Nagar police have nearly worked out the double murder of Dr Uttam Chand Gupta and his wife Kamala Gupta, parents of PGI Medical Superintendent Dr Anil Gupta, on July 8 afternoon at their residence in Sector No. 6 of Trikuta Nagar. Incidentally, a breakthrough in the murder came on the eve of old couple’s Rasam Pagri and Uthala, scheduled to be held tomorrow afternoon. A conspirator in the murder identified as Kiran Singh, a property dealer, was formally arrested by police today though she was detained a week ago. She has confessed that she conspired the killings, which were executed by her brother and cousin Kiran’s brother Naresh Singh of Kunjwani and a cousin have been identified as the killers. While Naresh Singh was expected to be arrested by tomorrow morning, it may take some time to police to arrest her cousin as he had succeeded in leaving the State. Jammu Police sources told EXCELSIOR late tonight that the totally blind murder, which had baffled Jammu Police forcing senior officers to spend sleepless night, has been nearly solved. "Arrests of the prime accused was only a matter of few hours now. A high level team of Trikuta Nagar police has left for a hideout (within Jammu province) to apprehend Naresh Singh. The hideout has been identified and his arrest was expected either by mid-night or tomorrow morning", the sources said. He said the weapon of offence was also lying with Naresh Singh and was expected to be recovered from his possession. Kiran Singh, a property dealer of Trikuta Nagar, who was the main conspirator in the murder, had already been arrested by police and put behind the bars. She was the same lady, who used to make threatening calls to Dr Gupta and his wife on telephone. Sources said both the accused persons had come to the house of Dr Gupta on the pretext of taking first floor of their house on rent but with a pre-plan to kill the couple. They were noticed sitting in the house by servant of Dr Gupta’s son-in-law. The servant had gone to Dr Gupta’s house to deliver cheese (as asked by the couple) in view of Dr Anil Gupta’s home coming on the fateful day from Chandigarh. Giving details of the murder, police sources said Kiran Singh used to send tenants to the house of Dr Gupta on commission basis. During this process, she had tiff with Dr Gupta twice after later asked for additional charges for parking and lawn from the tenants, who had been sent to the house by property dealer on commission basis. As the tenants were thrown out by the couple after dispute, Kiran Singh started hurling threats to them on telephone. Sources said Kiran Singh then conspired with her brother and cousin to capture the house of couple. The property dealer told police during interrogation that she decided to capture the house (with the help of her brothers) by stealing property documents and killing the couple as they were aware of the fact that both sons of deceased were settled outside the State. Both the killer went to the house, saw the rooms on first floor and came to drawing room of the couple. They executed the killings soon after the servant left the house after delivering cheese. First, they killed Dr Gupta and then his wife and fled away after searching one almirah in the house. "It was confirmed that the killers searched property documents of the house in almirah", the sources said but declined to comment that whether they succeeded in taking away the documents or not. They, however, didn’t take away any golden ornaments or other costlier items from the house, which were intact. Police said the servant had identified the killers from their photographs recovered from the house of property dealer, Kiran Singh. While Kiran Singh might be named as a conspirator in the case, her brother and cousin will be named as murder accused after their arrest. Sources said police officers had to work round-the-clock for the last 12 days to solve the murder case, which was probably the first of its kind in Jammu City and had sent a wave of panic among people especially the old couple living alone in their houses. As reported the couple was found murdered by Dr Anil Gupta on July 8 evening when he had come to his house from Chandigarh. Dr Gupta had talked to his parents the same afternoon on mobile telephone from Chandigarh to inform them of their visit. That call, infact, turned out to be Dr Gupta’s last conversation with his parents. |
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Civilian shot at Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, July 19: BSF and police killed two Pakistani militants at village Deeda Sokar, about four kms from Gool this morning while a civilian was shot at and seriously injured by the militants in Bhaderwah tehsil of Doda district. Official sources said jawans of 73 battalion of BSF, assisted by STF and IRP Gool carried out a search operation in Deeda Sokar village early today. A hideout of the militants was raided by security personnel and after an hour long encounter two militants were gunned down. Security jawans didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation. One of the slain militant has been identified as Abdul Gaffar son of Abdul Lateef, a resident of Gujranwala, Pakistan while identity of the second militant, who too was a Pakistani, couldn’t be ascertained. Recovery made from the possession of militants included two AK-56 rifles with eight magazines and 35 rounds, one binocular, one wireless set, two hand grenades, one compass, one IED and a detonator. Another encounter took place between militants and STF jawans, assisted by VDC members in Chapper village of Latti police station late last night. Militants fled away after exchanging fire with STF and VDC members for half an hour. In another incident, unidentified militants entered into the house of Mohd Shaffi son of Yousuf at village Rohmitabad under Bhaderwah police station last night and shot at him. Militants escaped after the firing. Injured civilian has been admitted in the sub district hospital of Bhaderwah. Army and STF Kishtwar recovered a consignment of explosives from Kuchan area of Kishtwar today. Recovery included four RPL grenades, one IED and a rape recorded. Recovery was made from the possession of Fareed Ahmed and Shah Nawaz, both brothers and sons of Ghulam Hussain R/o Kuchan Chatroo. They have been arrested. |
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Two civilians arrested Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, July 19: A foreign mercenary of a new outfit Harkat-e-Islami (HeI) was killed and a guide apprehended by army and Poonch police in an operation at Chhatapani forest area of Pir Panjal range this evening. Army also arrested two civilians for their militant links in Manjakot area today. A Defence spokesman said an operation was carried out by army and Poonch police in Chhatapani forests at 1800 hours today. A contact was established with the militants at 1830 hours and within half an hour, army killed one militant. A guide of the militants, who was hiding in the forests, was arrested by army and handed over to police for interrogation. Slain militant has been identified as Mohd Tariq son of Mohd Nazim, a resident of Gujranwala, Pakistan. He was an ‘area commander’ of a new militant outfit HeI, floated recently by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Arrested guide was Mohd Rafiq son of Jamal Din of Surankot. One AK-47 rifle, two magazines, 40 rounds and a pouch were recovered from the possession of slain militants. Till tonight, army and police was going ahead with the searches in Chhatapani forests to eliminate more militants, hiding there. Meanwhile, army today destroyed two hideouts of the militants, which were located in the houses of Mohd Kabir son of Mohd Shaffi and Mohd Sharif son of Niaz Ali at village Kotli Kalaban in Manjakot area of this district. One RPG launcher and 405 rounds of AK ammunition were recovered from the hideouts. Both civilians—Mohd Kabir and Mohd Sharif— have been arrested by police and were being interrogated to ascertain their links with Pakistan-sponsored militants. However, no militant was present in the hideouts when they were raided. |
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Army opens firing on CRPF vehicle escorting pilgrims Excelsior Correspondent RAMBAN, July 19: Army last night opened firing on a CRPF vehicle escorting a vehicle of Amarnath pilgrims at Digdol, about 12 kms from here near Khooni nullah causing serious injuries to four CRPF jawans including one Sub Inspector B B Rai. Counter FIRs have been lodged by army and CRPF against each other at Ramban police station. Reports said a private vehicle—TATA Sumo of Amarnath pilgrims went out of order near Khooni nullah at 1800 hours last evening. Another vehicle of the same yatris returned to Ramban and approached SHO for help in bringing back the stranded pilgrims to Ramban due to militants’ threats on the highway. A CRPF escort party led by SI Rai was deputed to assist the pilgrims. The escort vehicle—TATA 407— followed by a vehicle of Amarnath pilgrims were on way to Khooni nullah to help the stranded passengers. Police and CRPF sources said that army jawans opened direct firing on CRPF vehicle with a Light Machine Gun (LMG) from their picket in Digdol at about 2000 hours even without giving any warning to para-military personnel. All four CRPF jawans, travelling in the vehicle, were hit by the bullets fired by army and got seriously injured. CRPF jawans repeatedly shouted that they were para-military personnel but troops continued firing on them. The injured jawans also took positions but didn’t open firing on army picket. The pilgrims vehicle survived narrowly in the firing. Later, officers of both army and CRPF’s 21 battalion (whose escort was fired upon) rushed to the spot. Injured jawans were shifted to Ramban hospital from where they were referred to Military Hospital, Udhampur this morning. They have been identified as SI B B Rai, escort driver Sunit Singh, and two constables—Ravinder Kumar and Jagdish Kumar. This morning, CRPF officers met army authorities and conveyed their displeasure over firing on their vehicle. CRPF and police sources said they had informed army regarding the movement of escort party to help held-up Amarnath pilgrims at Khooni nullah. However, army denied having received any such prior information. Both army and CRPF today lodged counter First Information Reports (FIRs) against each other at Ramban police station. Police confirmed that separate cases have been registered at police station and the case was being investigated. Meanwhile, condition of Sub Inspector and constable Jagdish Kumar was stated to be serious in the hospital while condition of two other jawans was stable. |
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NEW DELHI, July 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today met Union Home Minister L K Advani and apprised him of militant threats to step up violence in the State after the Agra summit. During his 20-minute meeting with Advani, Abdullah said militants might try to attack the "soft targets" in the State, official sources said. The Home Minister assured the Chief Minister of all possible help in case of any stepped up violence in the State. Abdullah’s fear stems from the fact that several militant organisations had threatened to intensify attacks in the State. Centre has also withdrawn some army units from the insurgency-affected areas of the State. The Chief Minister, who was camping in the Capital during the entire Agra summit, lauded the role of India during the negotiations. Abdullah said the Indo-Pak summit should not be termed a "failure" as the dialogue process had begun and doors opened for future discussions. The Chief Minister, who returned to Jammu, said the approach adopted by New Delhi was in the "right perspective" and Pakistan will have to agree that the State is an integral part of the country. (PTI) |
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Jaswant accepts invitation to visit Pak NEW DELHI, July 19: Despite the sparring over the Agra summit, India today said External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan. Singh has accepted the invitation extended by his Pakistani counterpart Abdul Sattar and dates for the visit will be worked out mutually, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters in response to a question. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had earlier accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan which was extended by President Pervez Musharraf during one-on-one talks in Agra. The spokesperson made it clear there was no question of India "reneging" from the Simla and Lahore accords. "We hope the dialogue will move forward. Our objective is peace and goodwill. But we cannot ignore the previous agreements and experiences of the past", she said. Asked about India’s stand that a new beginning had to be made on the basis of Simla and Lahore accords on the ground that no agreement was concluded at the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit, she said "Agra marked the beginning of a journey and commencement of a process. We are not discounting the relevance of the Agra meet". On New Delhi’s proposal for a visit to Pakistan by the Director General of Military Operations, she said a response from Islamabad was awaited.. "Our proposal stands". (PTI) |
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ISLAMABAD, July 19 : A day after India rejected Pakistan’s view that draft Agra declaration should be the basis for future bilateral engagement, Islamabad tonight said Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf had "reached several understandings" at the summit which should be carried forward. A Foreign Ministry statement said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had "reached several understandings" during their summit "signifying a substantial forward step" in bilateral relations and the failure to reach an agreement at Agra on the full text of a joint statement was due to differences on one of its paragraphs. "Pakistan believes that these understandings should be preserved and expanded in the interest of peace, security and development," it said calling on India to build on the foundation of these understandings. The statement said remarks made by the spokesperson of Indian External Affairs Ministery yesterday "appears to disavow" the understandings reached between Musharraf and Vajpayee. It said Musharraf’s visit to India was an "important mile stone" on the road to resolving the Kashmir and other outstanding issues and establishing good-neighbourly relations between the two countries. (PTI) |
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PM admits Govt’s failure in media management NEW DELHI, July 19: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today admitted his Government’s failure in media management at the Agra summit. Addressing an all-party meet on the summit’s deliberations, the Premier said Government failed to keep the country’s media informed of developments relating to the summit. It all became a one-sided affair, he said in reference to briefings by the Pakistan Government to their media at short intervals. This was also in reference to the live telecast of a breakfast meeting of Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf with Indian editors. External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh at his press meet condemned the uncivil behaviour of some Pakistani mediapersons towards MEA spokesperson Nirupama Rao. (UNI) |
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