NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD, 29 January — Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday ruled out a war with Pakistan and revealed progress in solving disputes that have to led to a tense military standoff between the neighbors, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. “There will be no war between the two countries and all issues will be resolved peacefully,” Vajpayee was quoted as telling reporters in the central Indian city of Raipur.
“Diplomatic efforts are on and meeting with success. There is no question nor a decision to proceed toward a military action,” PTI quoted Vajpayee as saying. India and Pakistan are locked in a military standoff triggered by a bloody attack on the Indian Parliament last month.
Vajpayee, addressing a public meeting in central India earlier, had rejected Pakistan’s call for talks between the two leaders and said the return of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to India was central to resolving the bitter dispute. “Everyday, I am reading newspaper reports that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf wants to have discussions with me. Pakistan lost three wars and now wants discussion with India,” PTI quoted Vajpayee as saying.
Pakistan officials said yesterday it was “unfortunate” that the latest offer for peace talks with India had been rejected by New Delhi. “We regret that once again India did not accept our sincere offer,” foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan told the official Associated Press of Pakistan in Islamabad. “It is unfortunate that India once again has not responded positively.”
In a message sent Saturday to Vajpayee to mark India’s annual Republic Day, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said he wanted “good neighborly relations” between the two countries. “I would like to reiterate our readiness to engage in a serious and sustained dialogue with India to commence together a journey of peace and progress,” he said. But Vajpayee yesterday rejected the offer.
