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Future talks to involve PoK handover: PM
By Aarti Dhar
RAIPUR, JAN. 28. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, today said Pakistan had begun denouncing terrorism, but ruled out any negotiations until it completely stopped cross-border terrorism.
He told reporters here that the recent statements of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, were important in this context (denouncing terrorism) but added that we had to see how effectively these changes were implemented.
Reacting to Gen. Musharraf's latest offer for holding talks for a `no-war pact' between the two countries, Mr. Vajpayee said there was no need for a new agreement. ``We have signed several treaties for resolving the Kashmir issue peacefully through negotiations. `No-war pact' is a big thing, things will improve if only Pakistan stops cross-country terrorism,'' he said, adding that any negotiations with Pakistan in the future would involve the issue of handing over of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir also.
``Pakistan has always said that Jammu and Kashmir is the core issue between the two countries but we want to ask them whether this issue involves the PoK also which is illegally under its occupation. Kashmir is an integral part of India and we have a legal and constitutional right over it.''
Mr. Vajpayee said all diplomatic efforts being made by India in the present scenario were successful but said there was no question of military action against Pakistan.
Asked whether India and Pakistan were acting under pressure from the U.S., the Prime Minister said India never worked under any outside influence. ``We tested Agni-II which drew criticism from across the world, including the U.S. but we did it because we thought it was in the interest of our nation.''
Appreciating Pakistan's suggestion that Pakistanis involved in criminal or terrorist activities should be tried as per their law, Mr. Vajpayee said then it should handover all Indians in Pakistani custody for trial here.
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