International
Blair visit a success, says Downing Street
By Hasan Suroor
LONDON, JAN. 8. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, returned today after a high- profile visit to the subcontinent, including a secret midnight stopover in Afghanistan, amid claims that he had succeeded in paving the way for a dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad by getting the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to say that his country ``rejected terrorism in all its forms.''
Officials who accompanied him were quoted as saying that Gen. Musharraf's statement indicated a ``softening'' of Islamabad's stand and could form a ``basis for moving forward.'' Mr. Blair was ``delighted'' by the General's remarks, according to The Guardian. ``Although sources at Number 10 said it was too early to talk of a breakthrough, there was no mistaking the delight on the face of Downing Street officials after last night's developments,'' it said. The Times speculated that Gen. Musharraf appeared to have given a ``private assurance'' to Mr. Blair that he would crack down on the elements suspected to be behind the October 1 and December 13 attacks.
Media reports said Mr. Blair's office was ``satisfied'' with the outcome of his visit, which had come under attack by critics who had accused him of spending too much time attending to international issues while domestic problems were crying for attention. ``We are not talking of a breakthrough. We are saying this is a basis for moving forward,'' a Downing Street spokesman told the British media after Mr. Blair's talks with Gen. Musharraf. There was expectation here that the ``concessions'' agreed to by Islamabad - a crackdown on terrorism in all its forms and a promise to consider the list of 20 suspects India wants extradited - would pave the way for resumption of talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. Some commentators expressed exasperation with what they described as India's ``rigid'' stand, arguing that Gen. Musharraf needed to be given time.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
International
|
