No 'secret mission' with Pak.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 3. India today scotched speculation that the former Pakistani Foreign Secretary, Mr. Niaz Naik, was on a ``secret mission'' to revive ties between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The Foreign Office spokesman, in response to queries, said that no meetings between Mr. Naik and Indian officials or leaders were scheduled. Mr. Naik today participated in a seminar organised by the Council for South Asian Cooperation.

A report in the Pakistani daily, Jang, had said that Mr. Naik had ``suddenly'' air-dashed to New Delhi to hold ``secret meetings'' with senior Indian leaders including the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. The former Pakistani diplomat was involved in ``back channel '' diplomacy with India during the peak of the Kargil war.

India committed to Samjhauta Express

In a related development, India has said that it remained committed to the continuation of the Samjhauta Express, despite the misuse of the train for illegal purposes by Pakistani agencies and ``unscrupulous elements.''

``Our commitment to the continuing of the Samjhauta Express remains firm and abiding'', the spokesman said in response to press reports on hitches in the running of the only cross-border rail link between the two countries.

Responding to reports from Islamabad that India was not sharing the burden of running the train equally, the spokesman said that New Delhi was keen on holding a meeting with the Pakistan railway authorities to iron out the difficulties. ``We once again call upon the Pakistan to have a meeting at functional levels where issues concerning the railways and, in particular, issues relating to the Samjhauta Express can be addressed to mutual satisfaction.''

The spokesman said the Indian Railways would be contacting its Pakistani counterpart for an official-level meeting where all ``functional issues'' could be addressed. He, however, noted that the train had been used to push contraband, including firearms, narcotics and counterfeit currency into India.

The Samjhauta Express connecting Amritsar to Lahore was started in 1976. It is the largest carrier of Indian and Pakistani passengers. About 69,000 Indian visas have been issued to Pakistanis since 1995.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Japanese Prime Minister in coma
Next     : Infiltration bid foiled