'The Bottom Line Is The National Interest'

Ms Rao: Good Afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Has Dr. Kharazzi met the Prime Minister?
Yes, the Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kharazzi met Prime Minister Vajpayee this morning and the meeting lastedapproximately 35 minutes. It was a good meeting and views were exchanged on the current state of India-Iranbilateral relations, the meeting of the Joint Commission is taking place, satisfaction was expressed aboutthis positive development, the positive evolution of Indo-Iranian cooperation in a number of areas andparticularly emphasis was laid on the promotion of closer economic, trade and functional cooperation tiesbetween India and Iran. There was a discussion on the regional situation and the developments in Afghanistan.

Both countries have resolved to cooperate even more closely in matters relating to rehabilitation andreconstruction of Afghanistan. They are both committed to a peaceful and stable and prosperous Afghanistan.The situation relating to India-Pakistan relations also figured in the discussions and from our side PrimeMinster conveyed to Dr. Kharazzi our perspective on the situation, the legitimate concern that is felt byIndia on Pakistan’s unwillingness and incapacity to deliver on our reasonable expectations that Pakistanshould take action to eliminate cross border terrorism and thereby create a conducive climate for improvementof relations. Since that has not happened , that concern was articulated by us as we have articulated it to anumber of world leaders in recent days.

The reference was also made to the terrible cost that has been borne by India as a result of terrorisminflicted on it - the massacre in Jammu last week being a graphic illustration of this and the fact thatinfiltration, and support to militants, and ingress into our territory by terrorist organistations and groupsfrom Pakistan has not abated. That was also conveyed to the Iranians today. The meeting of the JointCommission is holding its concluding session. We will update you on that as soon as we have the information.

What was Iran’s response to the present situation between India and Pakistan?
Iran like other countries stated that it does not want to see conflict between India and Pakistan, that itwould like differences between the two countries to be resolved without conflict. You are also aware that theIranian Foreign Office condemned the attack in Jammu.

What was Iran’s response when we expressed our concerns?
I think Iran like a number of countries who are our friends is fully understanding of our position,understands the rationale behind our position, understands our compulsions. In that sense I think we are nottalking on a different wavelength. There is a certain bandwidth, here if I may use a technical term, of alllike minded countries who appreciate India’s concerns, who empathize with it and who understand why we havehad to react in the way we have had to in response to the situation we face.

How do you categorize PM’s visit to J&K? Some reports suggest that it is a precursor to war. Howdo you respond to that?
The Prime Minister is going to spend 3 days in Jammu and Kashmir and he is going there first of all to meetthe victims of the Kaluchak Massacre. His first engagement there will be to visit the military hospital inJammu and to enquire after the welfare of the injured and the casualties in this heinous attack and todemonstrate the Government’s solidarity with those innocent victims of terrorism and also to state ourresolve that we will resist terrorism with every ounce of determination that we have.

Pakistan High Commission in UK has said that India and Pakistan are on the verge of a war. Are India andPakistan on the verge of a war?
No, I somehow get the impression from your question that this is very one sided, that India seems to be doingall this and you have a peace loving Pakistan on the other side. I am afraid that we haven’t got the pictureright there. I think a number of developments have contributed to this present juncture where we stand at thismoment and of course no where has India been belligerent in its actions.

I think we are entitled legitimately, it’s our sovereign right to defend our interests, especially whenthey have been threatened in the manner that they have been threatened by forces from across our borders. Sowe have done what every other right thinking country would do and I totally reject the charge that it is wewho are war-like or it is we who have been belligerent. There is absolutely no substance to that charge. Infact it is we are who are the injured party in this.

But what are you trying to accomplish by massing around large number of troops along the border?
I wouldn’t like to talk about anything relating to troop movements and deployment because that is really thecharge of the Defence Ministry. I would not like to stray into that area. It is not within my brief to speakabout that. But I would like to reiterate, I would like to emphasise that we are engaged in the defence of ourinterests, in the protection of our citizens and in preventing cross border terrorism from achieving itsdastardly aims.

Is there any US pressure to restrain?
We are not in the business of responding to pressure where our interests are at stake. Let’s get this veryclear, the bottom line is the national interest and we will defend that under every circumstance.

Any details on Chris Patten’s visit?
No, I do not have any details on that. I can let you know.

Any further diplomatic initiative?
Well, as I said we are preparing the ground for further diplomatic initiatives vis-à-vis the rest of theworld so that all our friends in the international community are better able to understand our policy in thissituation and the very logical reasons we have for fighting the scourge we face from cross border terrorism.

When is Dr. Kamal Kharazzi going?
He is leaving around 7.00 p.m I think.

Is he going to Islamabad?
All I know is that he is leaving from here. It’s a special flight. He has come on his own aircraft. I haveas yet no indication on whether he is going to Pakistan.

You have been saying that the international community understands India’s concerns...
We are in the process of determining the nature of the initiatives that we need to take and how we strengthenour outreach to the international community in order to explain our policies and to bring further support forIndia’s position. It is of course our logical aim.

I think, I don’t really need to go into that. I think nobody wants to see a conflict. I think that is thegenerally stated position. We are all in the ultimate analysis, we are for peace and we are against war. Butyou are looking at a specific situation here. There are certain determinants that govern the situation andthere are certain national interests involved. I am not saying… Please don’t think that I am talking aboutimminent conflict.