Date:23/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/23/stories/2004072308611100.htm

International - India & World

Natwar Singh, Shaukat Aziz review ties

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 22. Taking forward the spirit of the understanding arrived at on Wednesday to stay engaged with each other on a sustained basis, India and Pakistan today agreed on the need for both sides to `get together' for the good of the people of both countries and the region.

This was the crux of the informal interaction the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, had with Pakistan's Prime Minister in-waiting and Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz. The meeting provided an opportunity to them to review the current state of India-Pakistan relations. Mr. Singh spent some time with Mr. Aziz who is expected to take over from the transitional Prime Minister, Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain. A trusted lieutenant of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, Mr. Aziz' elevation to the highest post has been delayed, as he is not a member of the Pakistan National Assembly.

Mr. Aziz is contesting the by-elections scheduled on August 18 from two of the National Assembly constituencies to make himself eligible to occupy the chair of Prime Minister. In the course of his interaction with the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Aziz was all appreciation for the verdict of the people of India in the recent general elections and characterised the outcome as a `tribute to Indian democracy.' It is likely that Mr. Aziz could be in Delhi some time in September and October in his capacity as the Chairman of SAARC. He asked Mr. Singh to convey his regards to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, whom he regards as his `economic guru.'

Interaction with top brass

Mr. Singh, who is here in connection with the SAARC Council of Ministers conference, made use of his visit for interactions with the political top brass and obviously New Delhi considers interaction with Mr. Aziz important. The Minister has already held intensive parleys with the Pakistan Prime Minister, Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, the Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, and would call on Gen. Musharraf at `Aiwan-e-Sadr' (Presidential Palace).

A reception given by the Indian High Commissioner, Shiv Shankar Menon, on Wednesday evening in his honour provided him an occasion for informal interaction with representatives of a cross section of the Pakistani society, including leaders of all political parties.

It would be the first high-level political contact between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and Gen. Musharraf when Mr. Singh calls on him tomorrow morning. Ahead of the meeting, Gen. Musharraf reviewed the progress of the current round of talks with Mr. Hussain and said he expected success in the composite dialogue process and wanted talks to continue to ensure a better future for the region.

He maintained that India and Pakistan could live as good friends like other countries. Gen. Musharraf said that Pakistan's foreign policy is based on openness and desire to hold dialogue with all countries.

Trip down memory lane

Amid his hectic schedule, it was time for the External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh to take a trip down the memory lane as he met his ``old friends'' here today.

Mr. Singh, who came here for SAARC Ministerial Conference, met the former Pakistani diplomats Agha Shahi, Sahabzada Yaqoob Khan and Shahriyar Khan and revived memories of their association dating back to 1980s. He had developed the association with them during his tenure as Indian Ambassador to Pakistan between 1980 and 1982 and subsequently as Minister of State for External Affairs in the Rajiv Gandhi government. These interactions, including the lunch hosted by Shahriyar Khan in Singh's honour, were described as a ``private'' affair between ``friends.''

Mr. Singh had also wanted to visit Khan Abdul Wali Khan, son of `Frontier Gandhi' the late Khan Abul Gaffar Khan but was unable to do so. He, however, called him up two days ago.