The Hindu : Talks only after cross-border terrorism ends: PM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 13, 2002

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Talks only after cross-border terrorism ends: PM
By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 12. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has said that talks with Pakistan can begin only after it puts an end to cross-border terrorism.

``There is no basis for resumption of talks till cross-border terrorism stops,'' Mr. Vajpayee said while speaking at an Arya Samaj function at his residence here today.

His remarks assume importance in the light of recent statements from Pakistan advocating resumption of dialogue.

Mr. Vajpayee said that Pakistan had been internationally isolated and terrorism had replaced Kashmir on the international stage. He praised the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sushma Swaraj, who was recently in Pakistan for forthrightly projecting India's stance.

BJP `punished'

PTI, UNI report:

Mr. Vajpayee said the BJP and its allies were ``punished'' by the electorate due to their ``shortcomings'' in the recent Assembly polls.

``Janata ne humein shayad hamari kuch kamiyon ka liya saja di hai,'' (perhaps people have punished us for some of our shortcomings), he said adding he hoped that BJP and its allies would go in for ``self- introspection'' so as to remove the shortcomings to win back the confidence of the people.

Warns detractors

The Prime Minister warned his political detractors against deriving political mileage out of Gujarat violence and said an inquiry had been ordered and the truth would come out. It was for the first time that a communal riot was brought under control within 72 hours, Mr. Vajpayee said.

Gujarat had witnessed communal disturbances in the past also, he said, explaining that by saying so, he was not trying to justify the recent violence.

He also added that he would not like to say anything more as Parliament session was on and he might be hauled up for his utterances.

Mr. Vajpayee advocated peaceful resolution of all problems in the country through dialogue. ``It is necessary that whatever problems we have in the country, efforts should be made to resolve them peacefully through talks.''

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