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PM wants more pressure on Pak.

By Amit Baruah

COPENHAGEN Oct. 11. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, said here today that he was under no pressure to begin a dialogue with Pakistan as has been repeatedly suggested by his European Union interlocutors. Mr. Vajpayee, who was speaking after bilateral talks with the Danish Prime Minister, Anders Rasmussen, said: ``We have been told repeatedly that pressure is being put on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism that will clear the way for dialogue. We have requested our Danish friends to add some more pressure to bring round the people of Pakistan, particularly their leader,'' the Prime Minister said at a joint press conference with Mr. Rasmussen.

The Danish leader, on the other hand, seemed more understanding of the Indian position on Kashmir and dialogue with Pakistan as he explicitly condemned cross-border terrorism and infiltration from Pakistan.

``I can assure you that the European Union and Denmark will continue to put maximum pressure on Pakistan to do its utmost to stop cross-border terrorism,'' Mr. Rasmussen said.

When asked if he had had a change of mind since yesterday when his stress was on Indian restraint and dialogue alone and did not refer to terrorism from Pakistan, Mr. Rasmussen said: ``No. Not at all. Actually, I referred to terrorism and strongly condemned it yesterday....''

Mr. Rasmussen, who said he had a ``fruitful'' meeting with Mr. Vajpayee today on cooperation between the two countries, said he ``welcomed'' the conclusion of the elections in Jammu & Kashmir.

``I hope these elections will be the starting point for a forward-looking and inclusive dialogue with the people of Jammu & Kashmir. As mentioned yesterday, we are concerned about the tensions between India and Pakistan and wish to see a process of de-escalation. The tension must be lowered. Dialogue is the only way forward,'' he said.

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