Sushma remarks cause a flutter

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 15. The reported briefing by the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ms. Sushma Swaraj, at Agra on the one-on- one meeting between the Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has triggered a furious reaction on the Pakistani Television (PTV).

Commentators on the PTV, which is covering the summit extensively, have accused Ms. Swaraj of giving a ``one-sided briefing'' by giving an impression that issues other than Kashmir figured prominently during the dialogue between the two leaders.

In the course of its live coverage, PTV got across to the Pakistan Information Secretary, Mr. Anwar Mehamood, to contradict the perception that Kashmir was one among the many issues that dominated the discussions between Mr. Vajpayee and Gen. Musharraf.

The Pakistan Information Secretary emphasised that the Kashmir issue had been discussed at length in the one-on-one meeting. Mr. Anwar said Pakistan continued to be ``cautiously optimistic'' on a possible breakthrough over the issue at the summit.

Replying to questions from an agitated commentator of the state- owned PTV, Mr. Mehamood said over the phone from Agra that discussions at the summit focussed on Kashmir. Mr. Mehamood is part of official Pakistan delegation. ``Discussions focussed on Kashmir. They have discussed other subjects as well in the delegation meeting. But the President of Pakistan has emphasised once again that the Kashmir has to be focussed and has to be addressed and once it is addressed, other issues can also be addressed''.

Asked if he was optimistic of any progress, he said, ``I will repeat what the President of Pakistan said that is cautious optimism''.

He told the PTV that he has just heard that the Indian Minister has briefed the TV networks, including state-owned Doordarshan, saying that other issues were discussed. But these issues were discussed at the delegation level, he said. ``But Kashmir is the focus,'' he told the commentators.

Asked about the willingness on the part of India to discuss Kashmir, he said, ``the Indian Prime Minister has said earlier that India is willing to discuss Kashmir. Our position is that Kashmir should be focus of the talks and other issues also can be discussed''.

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