'Kashmir Is Not The Core Issue'

India's Agenda? Why the reticence to talk when Pakistanhas virtually launched a blitzkrieg?

Silence is expressive enunciation. We don't haveto articulate our views day in and day out.

Is Kashmir the only issue forthe summit?

We are not agreeable with Pakistan that Kashmir is the only issue. We willlike to discuss all issues. We are never shy of discussing the Kashmir issuewith Pakistan and have no difficulties in this regard.

We do not have any set of proposals on Jammu and Kashmir for the Agra Summit.We hope both countries would address the totality of relations.

There is the 1972 Shimla Agreement and 1999 Lahore Declaration. If suchbilateral agreements are sought to be made irrelevant, there would be nostability in international relations. Pakistan had accepted the compositedialogue process and it should not be abandoned.

No single issue would dominate the summit talks as a composite dialogueprocess is already in place encompassing a number of issues. I am astonished nowthat there should be a suggestion that those be abandoned.

So if not the only issue is it thecore issue then?

Kashmir is not the core issue. It is at the core of the Indian nationhood. Wedon't believe in denominational nationhood, but in a civilised nationhood.

Cross Border Terrorosm

Cross-border terrorism is certainly very much part of the situation in J andK. The issue of cross border terrorism and infliction of it on India is thecontinuing concern for India. It is our expectation that Pakistan will addressitself to the issue of cross-border terrorism. If Pakistan declines, it is noreason why India should give up and compromise on the issue. We are particularlyserious about it. There can be no compromise on it.

So why talk now that cross border terrorism has not stopped?

India has never said it would not talk to Pakistan on Jammu and Kashmir. Thequestion of promotion of cross border terrorism and targeting of innocents ispart of the Kashmir problem.

Time does not stand still. It has been our constant endeavour to continue theprocess of dialogue and reconciliation to ensure lasting peace in the region.

India has always said the process of dialogue should continue and we believeand will continue to endeavour because for peace there is no other alternative.

Dealing with the man who was behind the Kargil conflict.

We have always endeavoured to move beyond experiences of history. Neithernations nor people....they cannot stand still.

India has always stood by the process of dialogue and reconciliation. We willcontinue to endeavour for this as we see no alternative.

Hurriyat Tea Invite - Would Union ministers boycott the reception in view ofNDA's decision to stay away?

Extraneous elements are being brought up in the run-up to the Agra summit.The government has made its position clear on the question of Hurriyat leadersmeeting Musharraf. We cannot keep making it clear ad infinitum

India has expressed strong reservations on the planned meeting and hasdescribed it as a non-issue. Government will observe all due protocol expectedfor this event. All due conventions and protocols will be observed during theceremonial ceremony when Gen Musharraf arrives at the forecourt of theRashtrapati Bhavan.

What exactly does he mean by Protocol?

Please ask the Protocol Officer.

(laughter)

NDA boycott - an embarassment to the Government?

Since elected representatives from J and K have not been invited for the teaparty, the NDA is justified in taking such a step.

Would the shadow of the Hurriyat loom large over the summit?

A shadow has been cast much more by he media. I have never seen any shadow inthis

regard. shadow of

Composite Dialogue?

India is very clear on a composite dialogue with Pakistan and there are eightConfidence Building Measures including on trade issues, Siachen, terrorism,narcotics and Jammu and Kashmir.

This (composite dialogue) has been our priority and it is clear. It is uptoPakistan to have their priority.

DGMO meeting

The DGMOs of the two countries would meet after the Agra summit since theydid not have enough time to take preparations for their meeting. India hasproposed CBMs on both conventional and nuclear warfare, which the DGMOs woulddiscuss.

What about the situation along the Line of Control and Siachen?

The DGMOs would discuss these issues when they meet.

Plebiscite in Kashmir?

It was India and not Pakistan which had referred the J and K issue to the UNin 1948 and Pakistan subsequently converted it into larger question of Indo-Pakrelations.

The UN Security Council resolutions stipulated ceasefire, truce and vacationof all troops from the whole of J and K and only thereafter the question ofplebscite or referendum arose

Snce the first two points were never fulfilled by Pakistan, the third one(referendum) did not come up.

The Valley alone is not Kashmir. What does Pakistan mean by Kashmir? Are youtalking also about Ladakh and the Jammu areas. There are also the Northern Areaswhich have been illegally and wrongly taken over / ceded by Pakistan. Northernareas are not even taken as part of PoK.

The question of referendum simply does not arise. Even Secretary General KofiAnnan had stated that the UN resolution of 1948 in this respect was notenforceable.

The accession of Kashmir to India had never been questioned even in theUnited Nations while some aspects could have been questioned.

Non-negotiable stand on J&K?

Jammu and Kashmir is part of India under the Constitution. How can Inegotiate the Constitution of India?

Could be any progress in the summit in view of the position taken by boththe countries?

I am not at all pessimistic.Both countries should approach the talks withrealism and move forward step by step instead of seeking dramatic breakthrough

The minimum and maximum expectation from the summit?

It is for the two heads of government to decide what it should be.

On Musharraf's offer of a No-War Pact

India had proposed a No-War Pact as early as 1947 and subsequently both thecountries have been proposing either a no-war pact or no-agression pact atvarious points in time.

The Prime Minister has said he would not be averse to a no-war pact andindeed would welcome it. But, a no-war pact should be comprehensive to includeissues like cross-border terrorism and proxy war. Without these issues, it couldnot be called comprehensive. Peace is not possible in the face of conflict andwar.

We will examine it positively if full consideration of cross-borderterrorism, proxy war and militancy is given. We can discuss non-aggression or nowar pact and implement it if we can consider all these issues.

India favours a Comprehensive No-War Pact that would address proxy war, crossborder terrorism and clandestine war. Without these issues, such a pact wouldnot be meaningful.

POWs

We have time and again taken up this issue with Pakistan ..... we have againtaken it up now During the Lahore process, the two governments had decided todepute Ministers who would visit the jails in each other's countries to sort outthe matter.

In fact, we had prepared schedules of these visits. But unfortunately, thatgovernment (of Nawaz Sharif) is no more. The government is aware of the concernand sentiments of the families of the numerous POWs and we will continue topursue the matter

Geneva Convention

The question of applicability of the Geneva Convention applies only if wefirst agree that there are any prisoners of war.

Invite under US Pressure?

There has been no US pressure on us as would be evident from the sequence ofevents since the Pokhran testing. Such charges are propaganda by terroristorganisations like Lashkar-e-Toiba that New Delhi had embarked on the step asits army was tired of fighting the militants.

Outside Mediation

This would run the risk of their agenda being imposed on the two countries.This will complicate the matter and destabilise the region, rather than solvingit.

CTBT

India will not stand in the way of it coming into force.

LOC - International Border?

The recent decision to ease travel restrictions by opening check posts alongthe Line Of Control (LOC) in no way suggested converting the LOC into intoInternational Border in J and K. This, was aimed at facilitating people topeople movement.

Isn't there a lack of reciprocity on the part ofPakistan to India's unilateral announcement of confidence building measures?

The steps announced by the Prime Minister are well thought out coveringvarious areas of trade, commerce and enhancing people to people ties to developgood neighbourliness.

CBMs - including easing of visa restrictions - peripheral?

People cannot be peripheral. It is India's firm view that people of the twoneighbouring countries should be encouraged to travel to each other's country.

Iran-India Gas Pipeline

It is not a trilateral issue. It is a bilateral issue between India and Iranand it is not subject to Pakistan's veto or concurrence.

Summit schedule

On Saturday at Agra, Vajpayee and Musharraf will have a one-to-one meetingbefore the start of the delegation-level talks. Then there is lunch. It is aworking lunch. Then there would be delegation level discussions.Provision hasbeen kept for Monday morning if the talks spill over