India, Pak. can coexist peacefully: Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 8. The Centre's initiative of inviting the Pakistan Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, for talks, even while terminating the ceasefire against terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir has started yielding positive results, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, said here today.

The decision had lent credence to the view that India wanted peace and both New Delhi and Islamabad were keen on deploying their financial resources for economic development, Mr. Advani said.

Addressing the 165th annual general meeting of the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Mr. Advani said the problem created by the Partition in 1947 ``cannot be wished away''. The Government's decision (of an unconditional dialogue with Pakistan) was a ``major beginning'' towards a solution, he said, and hoped that it would be a ``forward motion''.

Describing the terrorism and the proxy war on the Indo-Pakistan border, of the last ten years, as a ``turmoil'', Mr. Advani said ``even if an end to the turmoil is not in sight, we will be moving forward... Something is going to come out (as a result of the recent initiative).''

The developments in Vietnam, Germany, Europe and Korea had shown that increasing interdependence and synergy (between nations) were the ``best thing possible'' and there was no reason why India and Pakistan should not live in peace with each other. ``We are taking a long-range view of things,'' the Minister said.

Mr. Advani said the erstwhile Jana Sangh, under the presidentship of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya in the early 1950s, had suggested a Confederation of India and Pakistan - where the two countries could forge their strengths - and this was endorsed by the Socialist Party of Ram Manohar Lohia. ``If today we were to make such a proposal, this would, I suppose, include Bangladesh,'' he said.

India favoured an early end to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka also for peace and stability.

``On a more general plane, the Centre has been working actively with the States and also trying to strengthen cooperation among States, to deal effectively with the challenges of terrorism, extremism and subversive elements. We have recently completed a most thorough review of India's border management systems. The recommendations of the six task forces set up for this purpose will be implemented soon,'' Mr. Advani said.

Referring to the setting up of the Constitution Review Commission, he said the Government had intended only a review, not changes. The Commission would take a holistic view of the experience of the past five decades and the ``ethical and moral constraints'' faced in its proper working.

Talking to reporters at the airport earlier, Mr. Advani said there was no proposal at the ``moment'' to replace the Tamil Nadu Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, for swearing in an electorally disqualified person as Chief Minister.

Ruling out the possibility of conceding the All-Party Hurriyat Conference's demand for holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir under international scrutiny, he said India's commitment to democracy and free and fair election had drawn the admiration of the entire world. ``So, there is no question of holding election in any part of India under international surveillance.''

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