Agra
July 17, 2001
At the invitation of Prime
Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the President of Pakistan H. E.
General Pervez Musharraf visited India on 14-16 July, 2001.
In keeping with his
abiding vision of good Neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan,
the Prime Minister had invited President General Pervez Musharraf to
walk the high road of Peace and reconciliation. Our commitment to that
noble objective, upon the attainment of which, rests the welfare of
many, is not transitory. It is that commitment, which was demonstrated
at Simla, in Lahore and recently during President General Pervez
Musharraf’s visit.
Significant CBMs that were
announced prior to President Musharraf’s visit would be fully
implemented on our part. It is our conviction that, when put in place,
they will make an important contribution to our relations.
During his visit, the
President of Pakistan had extensive discussions with our entire
leadership. These included three rounds of one-on-one meetings with the
Prime Minister and an hour-long farewell call prior to his departure
yesterday night. There were also detailed discussions during delegation
level talks. All these meetings were marked by cordiality and candour.
They provided an invaluable opportunity to both sides to understand each
others’ view points, concerns and compulsions.
Our negotiations for an
agreed text of a document were seriously pursued. There were long hours
of discussions at official and political levels. During these
negotiations India did not shy away from any issue. In keeping with the
confidentiality, which is necessary for these negotiations, and the
maintenance of which is essential for the future of bilateral relations
themselves, it would not be proper to go into details. However, it needs
asserting that during the negotiating process, India fully respected all
established international norms. As a mature and responsible democracy,
we negotiate to improve bilateral relations with our neighbours, not to
indulge in public relations.
We are of course,
disappointed that the two sides could not arrive at an agreed text. It
will not be a breach of confidentiality to clarify that this was on an
account of the difficulty in reconciling our basic approaches to
bilateral relations. India is convinced that narrow, segmented or
unifocal approaches, will simply not work. Our focus has to remain on
the totality of relationship, our endeavour to build trust and
confidence, and a mutually beneficial relationship even as we address
and move forward on all outstanding issues, including Jammu & Kashmir:
building upon the existing compacts of Simla and Lahore.
It was also made
abundantly clear to the Pakistan side during the visit, that the
promotion of cross-border terrorism and violence are unacceptable and
must cease. Let there be no illusions on this score: India has the will
and resolve to defeat all such challenges.
We will pick up the
threads from the visit of the President of Pakistan. We will unceasingly
endeavour to realise our vision of a relationship of peace, friendship
and cooperation with Pakistan.
New
Delhi
July 20, 2001
I believe that this press
conference better explains and now people can judge for themselves as to
why it became so difficult to arrive at an agreed document during the
Agra Summit.
I do however wish to take
this opportunity to place clearly and categorically on record that the
thesis advanced by His Excellency Gen. Pervez Musharraf that the state
of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory is totally not acceptable
to us. It is not a disputed territory, it is an integral part of India
and precisely yet another reason why the continuous insistence by
Pakistan to treat it as a core issue and our difficulty to accept that
because we continue to believe that the state of Jammu and Kashmir and
what it represents is at the core of Indian nationhood.
Another aspect relating to
the cross-border terrorism, it is disappointing that in the face of
daily killings of innocent men, women and children, terrorism encouraged
and abetted from across the LoC and across the border is attempted to be
explained away on some newly stretched argument of legalism. The LoC is
a treaty document born of the Simla Agreement. There are contained in
the Simla Agreement commitment by both India and Pakistan not to do
anything to encourage any activities that disturb or order in either of
the country.