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Congress regrets Musharraf’s rejection of Simla accord

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

The Congress on Friday regretted Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s contention that the Simla Accord and the Lahore Declaration had become irrelevant and underscored that such an assertion indicated foreclosing of the Indo-Pak talks even before the Agra summit began.

“We have noted General Musharraf’s observation that the Simla Accord and the Lahore Declaration have become irrelevant. This is unfortunate because it is indicative of the foreclosing of the talks even before the Agra summit begins,” Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said.

He pointed out that a change of government (in Islamabad) did not mean that accords between the two countries, especially the Simla Accord, which had taken a comprehensive view of the issues involved between the two neighbouring countries, could be disowned.

Sharma also questioned Musharraf's assertion that the All Party Hurriyat Conference was the sole representative of the Kashmiri people.

“The Congress has always maintained that the Hurriyat has no representative character,” the spokesman pointed out.

He said that the Indo-Pak talks were bilateral in nature on which his party’s overall approach was ‘bipartisan, constructive and supportive’.

He contended that the five-member party delegation led by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had wide-ranging discussion with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and External Affairs and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh.

Sonia told the prime minister that as far as cross-border terrorism in Kashmir was concerned, the government must firmly take all possible steps to end it and Vajpayee should take it up with Musharraf.

“The entire country is united as one on this issue,” Sharma pointed out.

He added that his party urged the government to strengthen the peace process.

The Congress delegation also urged the government to give a concrete shape to the memorandum of understanding signed at Lahore during the upcoming Indo-Pak talks, he said.

The Congress chief will be meeting the Pakistan president along with party colleagues Dr Manmohan Singh and Kunwar Natwar Singh when he arrives on Saturday.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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