Pak. in dilemma over Vajpayee's assertion

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19.The military Government in Pakistan appears to be in a dilemma over the categorical assertion made by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, on Kashmir.

No one in the Government was willing to react to Mr. Vajpayee's statements. Officials said they had not seen the text of the comments. Implied in the cautious approach is the suggestion that it would not like to do or say anything that vitiates the atmosphere in the run-up to the crucial meeting between the Pakistani military ruler and the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister. At the same time, there is a view in the military establishment that Mr. Vajpayee's categorical assertions cannot be allowed to go uncontested. ``Three days ago when the spokesperson of the Indian External Affairs Minister maintained that Kashmir was an integral part of India and defended the previous statements of Mr. Jaswant Singh, we let it pass as we did not wish to do anything that could cast a cloud on the forthcoming summit. But now that Mr. Vajpayee himself has made the same comments, Pakistan may have to reply to alley apprehensions on the domestic front,'' a senior official of the Pakistan Government remarked.

Mr. Vajpayee's comments in Mumbai have come as a surprise to the Musharraf regime. One view here is that perhaps the Indian Prime Minister was compelled to take the stance after the `tough posturing' on the Pakistan Television by Gen. Musharraf in the course of the much-publicised `face-the-nation' programme. ``We can only hope that both were taking to the respective domestic audiences'', said a Western diplomat.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Russia warns U.S.
Next     : 'Centre watching situation'