Clarify stance on summit, Govt. told

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 8. The mood of despondency and pessimism that seems to have set in ahead of the India-Pakistan summit dialogue next week has led several political parties, especially the Opposition, to ask the Government for clarity in its approach to the summit. Political parties have said they expect the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to do some straight talking and share the Government's approach with them at the all-party meeting tomorrow.

The Opposition leaders today said they expect the Government to give its response to the recent barrage of anti-India statements from Islamabad, especially the charge of atrocities against the Kashmiri people by Indian forces, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's ``yes'' to the Hurriyat insistence on a meeting with him.

Even the BJP leaders, though more cautious, have said they are not happy with the fast deteriorating ``atmosphere'' just a few days ahead of the summit. The BJP expects something ``positive'' from the summit - that would have been handy in the coming Assembly elections and boosted the sagging reputation of the Centre too - but recent aggressive statements from Islamabad have made it feel that optimism may be misplaced. The party has not forgotten how the euphoria over the Lahore bus diplomacy kaleidoscoped into the Kargil battle.

While the Opposition parties have welcomed the invitation to Gen. Musharraf, most of them are beginning to advise the Government to be cautious in its approach. The Congress said there was no room for tripartite talks and that the Hurriyat must not be involved in the parleys; and the People's Front leaders, former Prime Minister, Mr. H.D. Deve Gowda, and Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), wondered why the Government did not make its stand clear on the possible Musharraf-Hurriyat meeting here despite its clear reservations on the matter.

One, the Congress, the SP, Mr. Gowda and several others want the Government to spell out its stand on the possible Musharraf- Hurriyat meeting. Two, they expressed shock at Islamabad's statement on repression in Kashmir. Three, the BJP has made it clear that in any ``no-war pact'', the undeclared proxy war in Kashmir must also be included. And four, parties have cautioned New Delhi against too much hype and too much optimism.

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