PM, Musharraf agree on conducive atmosphere

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 20. Pakistan's President and Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has complained to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, about provocative statements from New Delhi on the eve of the summit between them and has said that they did not help in creation of a proper atmosphere ahead of his visit to India.

Gen. Musharraf used the opportunity to convey his feelings on the statements emanating from New Delhi when Mr. Vajpayee telephoned to thank him about the `get-well soon' message before he went for the knee surgery in the first week of June.

Pakistan was clearly upset with the comments made by Mr. Vajpayee before leaving Mumbai on Tuesday that there was no change in the policy of New Delhi that Kashmir was an integral part of India. What has irked the Pakistani military establishment is the reported remark of Mr. Vajpayee that he would take up the question of the Pak.-occupied Kashmir when he meets Gen. Musharraf between July 14 and 16.

An official statement by the Pakistani Government today maintained that the Prime Minister agreed with Gen. Musharraf that conductive atmosphere was necessary for talks between the two countries. The Prime Minister also reportedly told him that some of his statements were quoted out of context.

In the course of telephonic talk both the leaders discussed the details of Gen. Musharraf's coming visit to New Delhi. The statement said the two leaders exchanged views with each other in an atmosphere of complete cordiality and understanding.

It said Gen. Musharraf drew the attention of the Prime Minister towards some statements emanating from New Delhi and told him that they were not proper for a dialogue between the two countries. The Chief Executive emphasised the need to check the `rhetoric' to create an environment of understanding and cordiality ahead of the summit.

Mr. Vajpayee agreed with the Chief Executive and said that a conducive atmosphere was necessary for talks between the two countries. He further pointed out that some times exaggerated statements were printed and quoted out of context.

In a related development, Pakistan on Wednesday regretted the reported statement by Mr. Vajpayee terming Kashmir as an integral part of India and hoped New Delhi would refrain from such actions which could vitiate the atmosphere.

``The Government of Pakistan regrets the statement reportedly made by the Indian Prime Minister yesterday that Kashmir is an integral part of India and that India will raise the question of the status of Azad Kashmir at the coming Pakistan-India summit meeting,'' said a statement here by the spokesman of the Foreign Office.

'A disputed territory'

``As recognised by the international community, Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory, the final disposition of which is to be decided in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council,'' it said.

The statement said, ``the Indian claim that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India is at variance with the ground realities in the State, where the people continue to wage a struggle for their right to self-determination''.

At the Pakistan-India summit next month, Pakistan will call upon India to join hands in finding a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of its people, it said. ``The Government of Pakistan hopes that India will refrain from statements and actions that could vitiate the atmosphere for these talks.''

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