Politic-Economic-Society-Tech

India Rebuffs Pakistan Talks Offer

By ASHOK SHARMA,

India's prime minister grudgingly shook hands with Pakistan's president Saturday - and later initiated a handshake himself - but he rebuffed an offer of talks until Pakistan cracks down harder on Islamic militants.

The two nations' armies exchanged shellfire again Saturday across the line dividing the Himalayan territory of Kashmir (news - web sites). A truckload of explosives being unloaded by Indian soldiers at the border went off accidentally, killing 17 people.

The first handshake took place when Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf addressed a summit of South Asian leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in a speech broadcast live throughout the region.

``I extend a hand of genuine and sincere friendship to Prime Minister Vajpayee,'' Musharraf said. ``Let us together commence a journey of peace, harmony and progress in South Asia.''

He then strode across the stage to a surprised Vajpayee and offered a handshake. The Indian leader rose from his seat and politely accepted with a faint smile. He later snubbed Musharraf, refusing to look at the waiting general or shake his hand when the meetings ended for the day.

On Sunday, however, Vajpayee stepped forward with a smile to shake Musharraf's hand, ending the summit on a warm note but without holding talks to ease the tension between their nations, whose armies are on alert.

In his own speech Saturday, Vajpayee said Musharraf's gesture should be followed by an end to what India says is Pakistan's support for terrorism.

``I have shaken his hand in your presence,'' Vajpayee told the audience. ``Now, President Musharraf must follow the gesture by not permitting any activity in Pakistan or any territory in its control today which enables terrorists to perpetuate mindless violence in India.''

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of waging a ``proxy war'' against it by backing Pakistan-based Islamic militants battling India's rule over two-thirds of Kashmir. Pakistan says its support for the militants - whom it calls ``freedom fighters'' - is only political.

The two nuclear-armed nations have massed tens of thousands of troops along their 1,100-mile frontier since a Dec. 13 attack by gunmen on India's Parliament, which India blamed on Islamic militants.

The Indian army said that Pakistani soldiers fired rockets and mortar shells Saturday across the cease-fire line that divides Kashmir, the Himalayan region over which both nations have fought two of their three wars. Indian soldiers shelled the Pakistanis, destroying eight bunkers, while an Indian child and two men were injured in the exchange when a house was hit, said an army spokesman.

At the Indian border village of Mahwa, soldiers were unloading a truck full off land mines and other explosives when one of the mines went off, sparking a massive blast. Fourteen soldiers and three civilians passing by were killed and 20 people wounded, police said.

The United States and other countries had hoped Vajpayee and Musharraf would meet one-on-one at the summit in the Nepalese capital to ease tensions. But India has repeatedly refused talks at any level, and Indian officials on Saturday dismissed Musharraf's handshake as a show.

``An offer of friendship has to be accompanied by acts of friendship,'' Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh said. ``Handling terrorism can't be a PR exercise,'' he said.

In Islamabad, Pakistan government spokesman Mohammed Aziz Khan said the president's handshake reflected a desire to resolve all matters between the two countries through talks.

The Pakistan government announced Friday it had detained more than 130 Islamic militants, including leaders of the two groups India blames for the Parliament attack.

On the final day of the summit Sunday, the seven South Asian leaders adopted a declaration pledging to fight terrorism. The declaration, which also called for improved regional trade, was agreed upon during a gathering Saturday that Vajpayee skipped.

Washington is concerned that the India-Pakistan standoff could hurt its campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaida terrorism network in nearby Afghanistan (news - web sites). Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Friday he may send an envoy to South Asia to try to pull the neighbors away from confrontation.

Powell spoke to Singh for 15 minutes on Saturday evening but not about the envoy, spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites), in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on Saturday, encouraged negotiations. He also urged Pakistan to crack down on the radical Islamic groups in its territory. He was set to meet Vajpayee on Sunday and Musharraf later in the week.

Musharraf declared that Pakistan ``remains ready to engage in sustained dialogue with India at all times and all levels.'' He insisted the global anti-terrorism campaign must distinguish between terrorism and ``legitimate resistances and freedom struggles'' - as Islamabad considers the insurgency in Kashmir to be.

Vajpayee said his own ``offers of friendship'' to Pakistan in the past have been answered by attacks by Islamic militants with, he said, Pakistan's backing.

Musharraf said he regretted that the summit of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives had been postponed for more than two years because of feuding by India and Pakistan.


source: Associated Press, 06/01/2002