PM not carrying any 'wish list' to U.K.

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, NOV. 10. When Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee arrives here on Monday on his first-ever visit to Britain as the Prime Minister, it would be the softest landing of his week-long diplomatic travels which have not been entirely without some sticky moments.

The one-day whistle-stop visit fits in nicely with the Downing Street's revolving door diplomacy which, in recent weeks, has seen world leaders breeze in and out of No. 10 as part of the international efforts to sustain the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism. Mr. Vajpayee, who comes three days after the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's hour-long meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, is not carrying any ``wish list'', according to diplomatic sources, and the visit is intended primarily to ``reinforce'' bilateral relations in the specific context of the two countries' commitment to fight terrorism.

There is no tightly structured agenda for his talks with Mr. Blair, but the latest developments in Afghanistan and India's role in a post-Taliban arrangement are the two issues which are likely to dominate the 90-minute luncheon meeting. This would be their second meeting since the launch of military strikes in Afghanistan, and both the British and the Indian side have been keen on dispelling the perception that Mr. Blair, during his visit to New Delhi last month, did not directly respond to India's concerns on cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. It is understood that India is satisfied with the assurance that Britain acknowledges India's feelings on the issue.

Analysts said that Mr. Vajpayee's visit was part of the ``continuing dialogue'' between the two countries since the September 11 outrage. The External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh's visit to Britain last month paved the way for Mr. Blair's trip to India, and since then there have been a number of ``high- level'' exchanges. Mr. Blair has spoken to Mr. Vajpayee on the phone on several occasions and the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw, has been in touch with Mr. Jaswant Singh.

Observers said Britain recognised India's role in the region and its place in the coalition, and India on its part ``valued'' Britain's crucial efforts to strengthen the coalition. The British Home Secretary, Mr. David Blunkett, is expected to call on Mr. Vajpayee and apprise him of the steps the British Government has taken to tighten up the anti-terrorism laws and speed up their implementation.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. John Prescott, a frequent visitor to India, the Secretary for International Development, Ms. Clare Short, who has just returned from Pakistan and Ms. Margaret Thatcher would be among some of the high-profile guests at a reception which the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Nareshwar Dayal, is hosting for the visiting Prime Minister.

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