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India, Pak should give up confrontation: Advani

A day after Pakistan's outburst against India on alleged human rights violation in Kashmir, Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Saturday stressed the need for the two nations to give up a confrontationist approach.

"Across the world, people who have fought each other bitterly have gradually started realising that everybody benefits through coordination and cooperation," Advani said after laying the foundation stone of a new complex of National Security Guards in Delhi.

"If India and Pakistan too embark on coordination and cooperation and give up confrontation, everybody would benefit," Advani added.

He said the government, particularly the prime minister, is determined to pursue this course.

On the government's move to invite Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf for talks, Advani said the decision was taken after India succeeded getting international focus on cross-border terrorism.

Stressing that India was in favour of a harmonious and cooperative atmosphere in the region and the country's foreign policy was directed to this end, he said, "It is unusual that our government wishes to have friendship with a country that threatens our security the most."

He said the present government took the first significant step in 1999 when Vajpayee took the initiative and went to Lahore to pursue friendship.

Advani said Pakistan's response to the Lahore initiative was witnessed in Kargil and that led to increase in tension and deterioration of ties.

"A situation was created which forced us to say that if it continued we will have no talks," the home minister said.

He said India decided to go back to the table after succeeding in 'internationalising' the cross-border terrorism carried out by Pakistan.

"The whole nation is now waiting to see what progress is made at the summit," he added.

PTI

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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