Militancy may escalate: Gujral

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. The former Prime Minister, Mr. I.K. Gujral, today said militancy in Kashmir would escalate as a result of the deadlock in the Agra summit talks.

If the post-summit developments in Jammu and Kashmir and across the border are any indication the militancy will be on the rise marring prospects of a future dialogue, Mr. Gujral told UNI in an interview.

Mr. Gujral cited Pakistan-based militant group leaders orders to their rank and file to step up their activities in the valley following the failure of the talks and spurt in militancy as justification for his presumption.

He came down heavily on the Indian Government's ``unfortunate approach'' in agreeing to invite Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, without a structured agenda and preparations needed for a summit of this nature in an era of knowledge revolution.

It was sad that the Vajpayee Government did not insist on sending officers before the summit which would have prepared the basis for a composite dialogue.

Outlining the positive aspects of the summit, Mr. Gujral said it was a ``good beginning''. Repair work has been done by both the sides in the post-summit days. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries have stated that this was not the end of the road and the talks were inconclusive. They both had clarified that the talks could not be characterised as a failure.

- UNI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Be better prepared next time, says V.P. Singh
Next     : Farooq meets Advani