PoK will figure in summit: PM

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI, JUNE 19. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would figure during his coming summit talks with Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. ``A third of Kashmir is with them and it is an indivisible part of our country,'' he told a press conference before leaving for New Delhi after a knee surgery here. ``Other related issues'' too would figure at the meeting.

India's stand on Kashmir, Mr. Vajpayee said, ``is very clear.'' Talks between the two would go towards enforcing India's stance. But the issue of enormous spending on defence on either side of the border too could come up, he indicated. The Rs. 2 billion cut in defence budget by the neighbour was ``too nominal''.

After returning to New Delhi, Mr. Vajpayee would convene an all- party meeting on the planned summit where relations with Pakistan would be reviewed and the future course determined. ``I intend to seek suggestions,'' Mr. Vajpayee said. Would there be any new confidence building steps prior to the talks? ``You will know when they happen.''

Most of the questions at the press conference revolved round Pakistan and the coming summit with Gen. Musharraf, but given the brief time allotted because the press interaction commenced well after 1 p.m. instead of the 12.30-p.m. start, not many issues could be taken up.

While Indian and Pakistani officials were working out the agenda for the meeting, the date and venue, non-official level efforts were on in both countries to ``ease the situation and restore normality'' and he ``welcomed it''. The agenda, however, could not be determined in an one-sided manner, Mr. Vajpayee said. On the outcome of the talks, he said ``I am an optimist and therefore invited Gen. Musharraf for talks.'' When the invitation was sent, he said, ``I had a hope. The purpose of the talks is to create a climate for solving various issues and find a way towards closer cooperation. I am still hopeful.'' He ignored a question whether the talks would progress at all with Pakistan reiterating that Kashmir was the core issue.

Manipur won't be affected

Turning to the extension of the ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) in Nagaland, he said it would not impact adversely on the status or borders of Manipur or for that matter, any other State in the northeast region.

Terming the violence in Manipur ``unfortunate'', he said it could be due to a misunderstanding among the people. He appealed to the people, especially the youth, to ``give up violence''.

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