The Hindu : Front Page : No equivocation: Blair

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 21, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

No equivocation: Blair

By Harish Khare

LONDON, SEPT.20 . Welcoming the incipient India-Pakistan peace process, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, today condemned "totally and absolutely" the Pakistani-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir, and said there was "no equivocation" on the issue as those who practised "whatever passes for terrorism" had no interest in peace.

Mr. Blair also favoured India's representation on a restructured United Nations' Security Council. "India ought to be represented" in the Security Council, said Mr. Blair and wanted the "G-8" process to be expanded to include India and China.

Dr. Singh said that "India had its own perceptions" of Iraq and made it clear that because of a political consensus at home, "India was not in a position to send troops to Iraq." But he did express India's readiness to help in the humanitarian reconstruction process.

As the two leaders saw it, the Indo-British ties were the "strongest ever", a relationship deeply impacted by the presence of 1.3 million people of Indian origin in Britain today, according to Mr. Blair. Dr. Singh said the ties could be made stronger by enhanced economic cooperation.

Dr. Singh said he had apprised Mr. Blair of the South Asian situation, including the latest developments in the India-Pakistan ministerial talks. He conveyed to Mr. Blair India's sincere desire to carry forward the peace process, provided the "terrorist elements" were kept under control; only then would it be possible for the Governments in India and Pakistan to prepare the requisite public opinion to move forward their stated desire to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.

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