The Hindu : `Indo-Pak. issues should be resolved bilaterally'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 09, 2002

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`Indo-Pak. issues should be resolved bilaterally'

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO JUNE 8. The Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who began a three-day visit to India on Sunday, has said the tension between India and Pakistan was of concern to the region, but stressed that it had to be resolved bilaterally.

``As far as we are concerned, the reasons for the tensions that exist now are bilateral. But we are also mindful of the fact that the consequence of the conflict will not be restricted to the northern plains of the subcontinent, that we will all be affected. We would like to see the tensions reducing, but that has to be done by the two countries,'' Mr. Wickremesinghe said in an exclusive interview to The Hindu prior to his departure for Bangalore, his first stop during the visit.

Pointing out that Sri Lanka had been a victim of terrorism, Mr. Wickremesinghe said his Government condemned the acts of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, "whether it comes from inside or outside''.

``We have noted that President Musharraf has also condemned these acts of terrorism, and there are reports that Pakistan has exerted some pressure on militants crossing over from the Line of Control. I don't know what the effect has been. I understand there is a proposal for joint patrolling,'' he said adding that anything that would bring down the tension was welcome.

He confirmed that the Pakistan President would visit Sri Lanka July-end. The visit had been fixed several weeks before tensions in the subcontinent had risen to their present levels.

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