The Hindu : Appropriate steps if Pak. keeps its word: Brajesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 04, 2002

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Appropriate steps if Pak. keeps its word: Brajesh

By Atul Aneja

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Kazakhstan President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, watch the Minister of State for External Affairs, Omar Abdullah, and the Kazak Defence Minister, Mukhtar Altynvaev, signing an MoU on military and technical cooperation in Almaty on Monday. — PTI

ALMATY (KAZAKHSTAN) JUNE 3. With international pressure mounting, India and Pakistan may be beginning to narrow the gap in their perceptions of ways to lower their border tensions. India today reiterated that it was willing to take ``appropriate steps'' in case the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, implemented some of the promises he had made to the United States and the United Kingdom on countering terrorism.

Addressing a press conference this evening, the National Security Adviser and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Brajesh Mishra, said that if "these (promises) are implemented, then we can take appropriate steps.''

Government sources pointed out that India's focus was on the seriousness of Pakistan's intentions on countering cross border terrorism. In case Pakistan's desire to curb infiltrations ``permanently'' was genuine, India would reciprocate meaningfully. According to Mr. Mishra, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, conveyed these views to the Afghan interim President, Hamid Karzai, and Tajiskitan's President, Emomaly Rakhmonov, whom he met this evening. Both leaders were here to

attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building in Asia that begins on Tuesday. Significantly, the Pakistan Information Minister, Nissar Memon, who is accompanying Gen. Musharraf said at a press conference here that Pakistan was focussing on ``deeds not words.'' He pointed out that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against any country ``including India.'' Mr. Memon added that the Pakistani President had taken steps to detain terrorists after his January 12 address. The effort to "hunt down'' terrorists would persist.

Reiterating India's approach during the Prime Minister's stay in Almaty, Mr. Mishra ruled out talks between Mr. Vajpayee and Gen. Musharraf. Nor was there any plan for members of the Indian delegation to meet the official delegates accompanying Gen. Musharraf. Ruling out "unproductive talks'' at this time, Mr. Mishra said India would like to "wait and see and verify what has been promised first.''

Mr. Mishra also clarified that the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, was not mediating between India and Pakistan and reiterated that he was holding separate meetings with Mr. Vajpayee and Gen. Musharraf on Tuesday. Russia was fully acquainted with India's standpoint and it was likely that Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Putin may discuss other "bilateral matters'' as well.

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