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Hopes of breakthrough fade

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Hopes of a major breakthrough at Agra have faded as both sides finalise contrasting delegations and differ on the basic approach to the talks.

Senior officials in the government admitted that the attempt at Agra 'can now only be to start a process of sensible negotiations comprising entire ambit of outstanding issues'.

However, even that could be difficult as Pakistan President General Pervez Musharaf continues to insist that Kashmir is the core issue, and without solving the dispute, other steps would be meaningless.

India believes that both the sides should adhere to the general framework of composite dialogue, which has eight issues including trade and commerce.

The initial euphoria visible in most quarters of the government has turned into caution and a pragmatic approach as the summit nears.

Officials are now referring to the advice of security and intelligence agencies that have warned strongly against walking into any trap set by the Pakistani side.

A senior external affairs ministry official said, "it would be difficult to arrive at talking points itself, our very approaches are completely different."

He pointed out that the composition of Pakistan delegation 'is indicative of their approach that only Kashmir should be discussed'.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is taking along with him Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha.

"We don't know what their role at Agra would be," admitted a senior government official, but said that India would "insist on discussing all outstanding issues including trade and commerce."

But counterparts of Indian commerce and finance ministers are missing from the Pakistan.

"They might end up having peripheral discussions with Pakistani foreign minister," pointed out a commerce ministry official.

General Musharaf has been insisting on discussing only Kashmir to the extent of saying that confidence building measures related to any other issue won't carry any meaning unless the Kashmir dispute is solved.

India has been announcing several unilateral measures to improve people-to-people relations by relaxing visa norms, and scholarships to Pakistani students. However, the reaction of the Pakistani side has upset the Indian establishment.

Diplomatic sources point out that India would not be announcing any further steps unilaterally, 'as they have given niceties of protocol and diplomacy precedence over improvement of relations'.

Indian side is especially peeved over the refusal of Pakistan DGMO to meet his Indian counterpart before the summit. There was hope even after Pakistan's initial protest statements over Indian announcement that they would invite Indian Director General of Military Operations over to Pakistan for talks before the summit.

Officials said India had hoped of several confidence building measures to improve conditions along the Line of Control and Actual Ground Position Line after the DGMO visit.

"We have not given up hope though," sources said.

Officials also said that India would be insisting on including both sides' commitment to curb cross-border terrorism and drug menace in case of a joint declaration.

In the Lahore declaration both the Prime Ministers had committed themselves to curb cross-border terrorism.

It was on Indian army's insistence that Vajpayee's Lahore delegation persuaded the Pakistani side to include a stand against cross border terrorism.

The initial draft of the Lahore declaration had no reference to cross border terrorism when it was being circulated among the top rung of the government in New Delhi just before the summit.

Army headquarters insisted that a strong statement on cross-border terrorism should be included and finally a watered down version of army's demand was accommodated in the Lahore declaration.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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