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Sunday,
December 30, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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India’s no to Pak offer for talks New Delhi, December 29 India’s tough talk came even as Islamabad today formally requested passage over Indian skies to President Pervez Musharraf to enable him to attend the SAARC summit next week in Kathmandu. India has already stated that it would grant overflight facility to President Musharraf in case a formal request were to be made to this effect. A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs made known the government stand when reporters asked her to comment on General Musharraf’s remarks yesterday that “I don’t mind meeting him (Mr Vajpayee). But as I said once before, you can’t clap with one hand.” However, no decision has so far been taken regarding the prospects of a meeting between External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh with his Pakistani counterpart, Mr Abdul Sattar in Kathmandu. Islamabad’s request follows India’s decision to stop overflight facilities to Pakistani aircraft from January 1, 2002, as part of its diplomatic offensive launched against Pakistan for not taking meaningful action against terrorist outfits responsible for the December 13 attack on Parliament. Meanwhile, India has virtually ignored US President George W. Bush’s suggestion asking it to take note of the arrest of terrorists by Pakistan, saying that it will make an “independent assessment” of such claims. “We have seen media reports in Pakistan and the western Press. There is no official statement from the Pakistan Government to the effect that they have made these arrests. We have to make our independent assessment,” an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. “We are in the process of getting the information,” she said. US President George W. Bush had yesterday stated in Texas that he was pleased to note that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had announced these arrests. “I hope India takes note of that, that the President is responding forcefully and actively to bring those who would harm others to justice.” US Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke last evening to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh who apprised him of Pakistan’s inaction against terrorist organisations and New Delhi’s steps to deal with the situation. New Delhi has conveyed to Washington that the measures taken by it in the wake of the December 13 terror strike on Parliament, were “minimal”. It has expressed the hope that the Pakistan Government would understand the gravity of the situation and take urgent measures to curb the activities of terrorist groups. India has denied that it had sent a list of 30 terrorists to Pakistan, including Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Azhar Masood, seeking their
extradition.
ISLAMABAD: Meanwhile, Pakistan today said it would not request a meeting between its President, Pervez Musharraf, and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee but was willing to hold talks to calm border tensions. Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said, “We have made no specific request. If there is a desire on the part of the Indian Prime Minister, then surely a meeting will be arranged,’’ he said. “Pakistan is ready to have talks anytime and anywhere depending on the mutual decision of the two leaders,” Mr Abdul Sattar said. Agencies PIA flight allowed New Delhi, December 29 Pak bans channels Islamabad, December 29  |
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Bush speaks to Atal, Pervez Islamabad, December 29 |
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USA
may send envoy
New Delhi, December 29 The New York Times quoted the official as saying that
two earlier occasions for conciliation — a South Asian summit
meeting in Nepal from January 4 to 6 and a visit to India by British
Prime Minister Tony Blair a bit later — would probably be given a
chance to work first. UNI |
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