The Hindu : Gujral favours Indo-Pak. talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 25, 2002

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Gujral favours Indo-Pak. talks

New Delhi June 24. Favouring a dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all issues, the former Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, today said negotiations could help each side understand the problems and difficulties of the other side and arrive at a solution.

``I am a firm votary of dialogue between countries, particularly India and Pakistan. I feel disturbed by the voices of guns which drown possibilities of peace,'' he said at a function organised here to confer on him the St. Andrew International Award, `Dialogue of Civilisations', by a Russian organisation.

He said he had ``experienced the power of dialogue. Confidence can be built with neighbours through dialogue and accommodation.''

Citing the case of China, Mr. Gujral said talks with that country had opened possibilities for working as good neighbours.

``Similar has been the experience of Russia in dealing with China and the U.S.''

He said India's strength was that it was willing to meet and discuss issues ``even with adversaries''.

The world was confronted with writers and thinkers who profess the ``philosophy of doom which thrives on hatred and violence spread by fundamentalists.''

``Only dialogue between civil societies can barricade such onslaughts.'' He said the new information technology provided an opportunity for interaction at mass levels to bring peace. — PTI

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