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Moves to bring India, Pakistan together

by Ranga Kalansooriya in New Delhi

Indian leaders will make their best attempts to keep eyes away from their Pakistani counterparts when they meet each other later this week in Kathmandu.

Indian Premier Atal Behari vajpayee has already rejected an offer from Pakistani President General Pervez Musharaff for talks during the South Asian Association for Regional Corporation Summit in Kathmandu which is due to be held from January 4 to 6.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga will lead the Sri Lankan delegation which includes Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando.

Leaders from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh will have a major role to play in bringing India and Pakistan together during the Summit, said a Delhi-based Asian diplomat.

"Though bilateral issues are not permitted at the Summit those regional leaders can do something for the peace of the region, outside the Summit fora," he told the Daily News.

India has tightened its border security, pouring thousands of border guards with stringent diplomatic sanctions against Islamabad including calling back its High Commissioner and closing down bus and train services across the border.

Indian Premier Vajpayee called an urgent all party meeting yesterday to discuss further measures against Pakistan while President Musharaff ruled out possibilities for war between the two nuclear armed nations.

"The possibility for a war with India is only five percent," he was quoted by the media. He added that there could be some skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC).

He, however, said that he was willing to hold talks with his Indian counterpart during the Summit. "If India is ready, I am willing to hold talks," he has said.

India's ruling BJP is now being accused of creating a war mentality among the people by the Opposition. It is being pressurised by opposition parties and the international community to respond positively to the Pakistani President's offer for talks.

A final decision on these matters could be expected after the Premier's meeting with other political party leaders, official sources told the Daily News.

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