The Hindu : Troop withdrawal not under pressure: Sinha

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 20, 2002

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Troop withdrawal not under pressure: Sinha

Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) Oct. 19. The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, today brushed aside reports that the decision to pull back troops from the International Border with Pakistan was taken under pressure from the United States.

``There is no substance in such allegations,'' Mr. Sinha said, addressing a gathering during a felicitation function organised by the Citizens Forum of Hazaribagh.

India had attained such a position that no foreign country could dictate terms to it. The decision to pull out troops was taken after an in-depth study of the situation on the border, particularly after the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. ``We have made it known that India is equal to all the world powers and it is not depending on anyone's mercy,'' Mr. Sinha said.

On the differences between India and the European Union over the Kashmir issue during the visit of the Prime Minister to Copenhagen for the India-E.U. summit, he said, ``we did not agree with the E.U.'s language of Kashmir to be mentioned in the communique as we had some differences with the Danish Prime Minister... and it was agreed to maintain silence."

PTI

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