The Hindu : A positive gesture: Pak. Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 19, 2003

International

International

A positive gesture: Pak. Minister

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD April 18. Pakistan today welcomed the reported statement of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, extending a `hand of friendship' and offer of talks for resolution of all outstanding issues.

While the ever-ready reaction Pakistan Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, hailed it as a `positive gesture', the Foreign Office was more circumspect. Nonetheless, it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise from Srinagar, particularly in the diplomatic and political circles here.

An enthusiastic Mr. Rashid declared that if India took one step towards peace, Pakistan would take two. ``This is what we have been saying all along. There can be no military solution to any problem. All issues, including Kashmir, must be resolved through talks across the table,'' he said.

Mr. Rashid said this was the approach of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, at the Agra Summit in July 2001 and it failed to yield any tangible benefit for India and Pakistan due to the attitude of `hard-liners' in India. He, however, did not wish to venture any guess on the `sudden change in the Indian attitude'. He agreed with the suggestion of a journalist that it could be the result of `international pressure'.

The Pakistan Foreign Office, however, was cautious. It would like to see the text of Mr. Vajpayee's statement before giving a formal response. It is all the more felt necessary considering the recent bitter exchange of words between New Delhi and Islamabad over ``pre-emptive strikes''.

In a related development, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, said that Pakistan stood for peace, development and progress of SAARC region. Talking to a delegation of journalists from Nepal which called on him in Rawalpindi this morning, Gen. Musharraf said that peace was essential to enable the utilisation of the resources of the region for ``improving the living standard of our peoples.''

Significantly, he did not comment either on the recent statements emanating from New Delhi or the circumstances under which Pakistan was compelled to postpone the proposed SAARC summit in January this year.

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