Dialogue process has started: Omar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 1. Refuting the Opposition claim that the Agra summit was a failure, the Government tonight asserted in the Lok Sabha that a process of dialogue with Pakistan had begun and it must continue to facilitate peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues between the two countries.

``Is it a failure because there was no joint declaration at the end of the summit? Is it a failure because we did not hold it under constant media glare? Was it supposed to have produced miracles?'' Mr. Omar Abdullah said in his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha as Minister of State for External Affairs.

Mr. Abdullah, who represents the National Conference, said: ``If differences between India and Pakistan are vast, at least a start has been made and a process of dialogue has begun. We hope this will become an irreversible process.'' Countering the Opposition charge that the Government had gone to Agra without a well- chalked out agenda, he said the Government had submitted an eight-point agenda to Pakistan and even taken certain confidence- building measures before the summit. ``These confidence-building measures were not confined to just one area, these were across the length and breadth of the country and involved people-to- people contacts.''

He said the Opposition parties had been consulted prior to the summit but they did not come up with suggestions. In fact, the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, had clearly stated that the unresolved issue was that of Pakistan occupied Kashmir which was legally a part of India, he added.

Reacting to the Congress member, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar's accusation that the Government was ``confused'' during the summit and had failed to take everybody along, Mr. Abdullah said the Government had firmly stood its ground that there could be no joint declaration without a reference to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

``Where is the secret solution? We are not hiding anything from the nation. If you have a formula share it with us,'' he retorted. Mr. Abdullah accused the Congress of failing to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir issue even after ruling the country for nearly 50 years.

Dismissing the Pakistani view that the violence in Jammu and Kashmir was the result of the ``freedom struggle'', the Minister asserted that there was no indigenous struggle in the State though there were some misguided youth who were being taken advantage of by Pakistan. He said terrorists of 16 different nationalities had been found to be active in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rejecting charges from across the border that there was ``jehad'' in Jammu and Kashmir as Islam was in danger, he said: ``India is a secular country and we are proud of our secular traditions and heritage. There is no bar in this country on anyone to practise the religion of his choice.''

His maiden speech drew applause from the treasury benches and the young Minister even got a pat from the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh. The BJP members and other Ministers were also seen congratulating him on his performance.

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