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J&K is an integral part of India: Govt

"The external affairs minister was not giving his personal views or simply making a statement. He was reiterating provisions of the Constitution of India," a spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry said in response to questions on Musharaff's statement on Pakistan radio and television on Friday night.

On Singh's assertion that J&K belongs to India, Musharraf had regretted the remarks of the external affairs minister and hoped that he had not meant it.

"I think we cannot go ahead like this, I hope this was restricted to a statement only and he (Singh) did not mean that when we enter into a dialogue," Musharraf had said.

At his press conference on May 28, Singh had said, "The whole of J&K is an integral component of India and that stand remains unaltered. The question of a referendum does not simply arise."

The external affairs minister had also referred to a 1994 resolution of Parliament declaring that J&K is a part of India.

On Musharraf's statement that he would be going with an "open mind" to India for the summit with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the spokesperson said, "How can we gauge how open a mind is until it is opened."

On possible dates for the summit, which sources had indicated earlier this week that it could be held in mid-July, the spokesperson said that the issue "is under very active consideration".

Official sources maintained that the dates would be announced after Vajpayee's return to Delhi next week from Bombay, where he is recuperating at Breach Candy hospital after his right knee replacement surgery.

Singh, who is scheduled to begin an eight-day tour of Australia and New Zealand from June 19, met Vajpayee at the hospital on Friday. Reports said that the proposed summit was also discussed.

The spokesperson said that no decision had been taken on the venue of the summit.

She referred to Singh's comments on May 28 that these talks were being approached by India with "a sense of realism" and that "it is a long road to walk together".

Singh had said Vajpayee's invitation to Musharraf had been "explicit" and spoken about picking up threads from the 1999 Lahore Declaration as also the 1972 Simla Agreement.

PTI

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