NEW DELHI, 8 November 2003 — Quashing speculations about India and Pakistan heading toward any major conflict, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said: “The peace process which I recently initiated is based on the conviction that it is imperative for India and Pakistan to establish relations of cordiality and cooperation in today’s globalized world.”
Long-standing disputes between the two nations cannot however be resolved overnight, Vajpayee told the Financial Times of London in an interview published yesterday.
“Mistrust and hostility which have existed for over five decades cannot be dispelled overnight. We should not expect miracles,” Vajpayee said.
Highlighting moves made by India to promote people-to-people interaction, cultural exchanges and economic cooperation for establishing confidence and trust between two countries, Vajpayee said that the 12 proposals made recently by India were a part of this drive.
On the slow progress of this process, Vajpayee said: “I cannot predict whether or how soon the process can go forward since one hand cannot clap.” Asserting India’s concern about Pakistan’s “sincerity” toward a “meaningful dialogue,” he said: “We have to see concrete evidence of Pakistan’s sincerity in stopping cross-border infiltration, dismantling terrorist training camps in that country and closing down communications centers, which incite terrorist actions from across the border.”
Vajpayee reiterated India’s argument against discriminatory nature of global non-proliferation and missile control regimes when questioned on US restrictions on “dual-use” technologies.
Expressing India’s concern about Pakistan’s nuclear weapons’ program, Vajpayee said: “Naturally, it is a matter of concern for us since this program is unambiguously directed only against India. India’s nuclear doctrine rejects nuclear war as an instrument of policy.”
Drawing attention to India having adopted a “No First Use” policy, Vajpayee said: “Our minimum credible deterrent is intended to minimize the possibility of nuclear conflict in our region.”
Vajpayee said India remained fully committed to economic reforms despite delays in privatization caused by the courts and members of his coalition. “The short point is that there is no weakening in India’s commitment to the reform process,” Vajpayee said.
“Those who make critical comments about the pace of our reforms should remember that this vast country accommodates a diversity of perspectives,” said Vajpayee, whose government faces parliamentary polls within a year. “I... do not accept that our reform process has been ‘stop-go’ in nature. It is natural —and beneficial for the durability of reforms — that the process should move forward on the basis of broad consultations and reconciliation,” Vajpayee said.
