Pak. for resuming talks on 'Agra format'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 28. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, today expressed a desire for resumption of dialogue with India ``by reviving the format'' agreed upon at the Agra Summit in July.

In the course of a joint press conference here with the visiting German Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder, he also complained about the `persistent hostility' being demonstrated by India seeking a `hegemonic role' in the region.

It was for the first time since the September 11 attacks that Gen. Musharraf was making a reference to the Agra Summit and to the so-called `format'. He was obviously pointing to the draft joint declaration that could not be signed due to differences on both sides over some of the contentious issues, including Kashmir.

In the presence of the German Chancellor the Pakistan President once again referred to Kashmir as the core issue of tensions and the need for its resolution in accordance with the `wishes of the Kashmiri people' as per the United Nations Resolutions.

He said that Indian allegations of `cross-border terrorism' were self-serving and accused New Delhi of trying to create problems for Pakistan in the wake of the situation arising out of the September 11 terror attacks.

The situation in Afghanistan, particularly in the wake of the three-week old military campaign by the U.S.-led coalition and the growing civilian casualties in the war were the main topics of discussion between the Pakistan President and the German Chancellor in the course of their two-and-half-hour discussions.

The German Chancellor echoed the sentiments of Gen. Musharraf on the need for India and Pakistan to resume the process of dialogue to resolve their differences.

Delhi to convey view on `moderate Taliban'

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, OCT. 28. India is set to undertake a major brainstorming exercise on Afghanistan with the visiting German Chancellor, Mr. Gerhard Schroeder and the Japan's former Prime Minister, Mr. Yosihiro Mori, both of whom arrived here this evening.

During his talks in India, Mr. Schroeder is certain to hear from his Indian interlocutors that the West should shed the notion of accommodating what are called ``moderate Taliban'' in a post- conflict government in Afghanistan. This assertion from the Indian side will be all the more necessary to dissuade western nations from acting in haste for choosing representatives of the ethnic Pashtuns in a new political arrangement in Afghanistan, analysts here said.

India is expected to covey to the German Chancellor, the need for accommodating the representatives of the Northern Alliance in a new political arrangement in Kabul. The Northern Alliance represents Afghanistan's ethnic minorities including the Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks and Shias. India is also willing to consider a role for the former Afghan King Zahir Shah.

India and Germany are likely to find much in common in a U.N. role in facilitating a post-Taliban transition in Afghanistan. India wants the U.N.-sponsored initiative of what are called ``six plus two'' countries which have been designated to bring normality in Afghanistan to cease. Instead, it wants a new 15- country initiative that includes, besides itself, Germany and Japan along with the five permanent members of the Security Council to be initiated.

The positioning of a U.N.-sanctioned military force during the transitional phase in Afghanistan is also likely to come up for discussions. The United States and Britain, reportedly favour positioning a U.N.-sanctioned force drawn mainly from Islamic countries to tackle possible incidents of violence in Afghanistan.

The visit of Mr. Yosihiro Mori is expected to focus on reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to war-torn Afghanistan.

Mr. Mori is expected to meet the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee and his other senior Cabinet colleagues.

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