The Hindu : Prepared to do business with Advani: Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 02, 2002

International

International

Prepared to do business with Advani: Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD July 1. In the first signal since the elevation of the Union Home Minister, L. K. Advani, to the job of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today said that Islamabad was prepared to do business with him for the resolution of all differences between the two countries.

Addressing a joint news conference with the visiting Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, Gen. Musharraf said irrespective of the leadership at the helm of affairs in New Delhi, Pakistan was prepared to involve them and engage them `realistically' for the resolution of all disputes including that of Kashmir.

``We need to address the Kashmir issue frontally as we have been doing. We should catch the bull by the horns. Whichever leadership is there in India, be it Advaniji or Vajpayeeji, we need to involve and engage them realistically,'' he said.

In response to a specific question, on the prospects of peace between India and Pakistan, in the light of the changing power equations in New Delhi, Gen. Musharraf said ``if there is sincerity on the Indian side we could move forward''.

The comments made by Gen. Musharraf assume significance on two counts. One, in the perception of Islamabad Mr. Advani could be just one step away from the post of Prime Minister after his formal coronation as the number two in the Vajpayee Government.

More important, Gen. Musharraf is sending out a signal that even if Mr. Advani were to become the Prime Minister there would be no change in the policy of Islamabad towards India — return to the negotiating table and engage it in a `meaningful dialogue' for resolution of Kashmir.

In his interview to The Hindu that appeared on April 1 Gen. Musharraf squarely blamed Mr. Advani for the collapse of the Agra summit. There have been a number of statements and comments by Gen. Musharraf and his senior functionaries since the Agra summit talking about the divide between the moderates led by Mr. Vajpayee and the hardliners headed by Mr. Advani.

The Pakistan President said India and Pakistan should strive to resolve all their differences including the Kashmir issue on the basis of a `just solution and peaceful means'.

General Musharraf asserted that there was an urgent need for de-escalation of tension in the region and it could be achieved only if India was willing to withdraw its forces from the border.

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