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Sheela Bhatt and Suketu Shriram in New Delhi
Now that Pakistani Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has formally accepted Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's invitation to visit India, top government officials are thinking up ways to make the summit a historic one.
Musharraf's visit will be a diplomatic coup for Vajpayee and the government wants it to be a grand show. The two leaders are likely to fly to a picturesque location for an intimate talk to chart the 'high road' to peace.
The officials are aware that the landmark Indira Gandhi-Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto meeting in Simla in 1972, where Gandhi, Bhutto and his teenaged daughter Benazir showed up for a photo session at the end of the summit, remains etched in public memory.
The external affairs ministry is coordinating with President K R Narayanan's office, the prime minister's office and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi's office to decide the dates and timings for the official and formal breakfast, lunches and dinners.
The most interesting debate, however, will be whether General Musharraf should address Parliament. Parliament is likely to be in session when the general visits Delhi. But as he is a military ruler, strong opposition to this idea is expected.
The visit is unlikely to last more than three days, external affairs ministry sources said. With Parliament in session, security will also be a major concern. But the sources indicated that the security for General Musharraf's visit would be as strict to that for US President Bill Clinton's visit in March 2000.
Meanwhile, political activities in the capital have intensified. According to sources, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal may oppose Musharraf, who is blamed for starting the Kargil conflict.
The same sources said there was a possibility of a BJP politician being inducted into the PMO to harmonise coordination among the PMO, the party and the Sangh Parivar.
Narendra Modi and Vijay Goel are already in the race for the job, though a final decision has not yet been made to create the post of political adviser to the prime minister.
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