The Hindu : Jamali urges India to give up 'stubbornness'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 27, 2003

International

International

Jamali urges India to give up 'stubbornness'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Feb. 26. Close on the heels of the "hand of friendship" offered to India by the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, has urged India to abandon what he has termed its "stubbornness'' and agree for a dialogue.

"We've been making sincere offers to India for talks, and I'm again inviting them to come and talk to us," Mr. Jamali told the newly launched private Pakistani television channel, Geo TV. He reiterated the stated position of Pakistan that it was ready for talks. But no one is excited over the statements of Gen. Musharraf and Mr. Jamali. There is little scope for an early resumption of the stalled dialogue between India and Pakistan, particularly after the hot words exchanged on both sides at Kuala Lumpur on the Summit podium as well as the sidelines.

Western diplomats here are a bit surprised at the sharp response from the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to the statement made by Gen. Musharraf in the course of his speech on Kashmir and the so-called state-sponsored terrorism.

"No doubt Gen. Musharraf triggered the war of words by his unnecessary reference to Kashmir at the multilateral forum. But one wonders if it was the right thing for Mr. Vajpayee to have reacted so strongly'', observed a senior diplomat.

In his television interview, Mr. Jamali hastened to add that Islamabad could not force New Delhi to enter into negotiations for resolution of all differences. "It (India) is a big country and big democracy and should demonstrate that through their actions. Stubbornness does not pay. Everything has a limit."

Mr. Jamali also criticised India for not allowing its athletes to take part in the South Asian Games to be held in Islamabad towards the end of March. He alleged that the refusal reflected a "bigoted mindset." he said there was no logic in India's decision to stay away from the SAF games. In support of his contention, Mr. Jamali said India was playing against Pakistan in the cricket World Cup. Asked why he did not go to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, Mr. Jamali said Gen. Musharraf had requested him to go. But he, in turn, had asked Gen. Musharraf to attend the Summit in view of his pre-occupation with the Senate election.

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