The Hindu : National : 'Forward-looking' talks between Aziz, Natwar Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 24, 2004

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National

'Forward-looking' talks between Aziz, Natwar Singh

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 23. The 45-minute-long discussion between the Pakistan Prime Minister, Shaukat Aziz, and the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, here today was "very friendly, positive and forward-looking."

The External Affairs Ministry spokesman told presspersons that Mr. Aziz and Mr. Singh had agreed to work for increased cooperation between India and Pakistan. All six Ministers accompanying Mr. Aziz were present at the meeting. Mr. Aziz said this reflected the commitment of Pakistani civil society to "this [rapprochement] process." Seven top Pakistani businessmen and Parliamentarians are also accompanying him.

The spokesman said "SAARC issues" were also discussed. It was pointed out that though a good beginning had been made in the last SAARC summit, including on the South Asian Free Trade Agreement, much more was needed to be done.

"The potential for further regional cooperation was recognised by both sides," he said. "This is something which will be discussed in the meetings that are to follow tomorrow."

India is known to be keen to press ahead with the momentum generated by SAARC and wants that South Asian nations must move ahead with a customs union.

MFN status

The spokesman said he did not want to get into "hypothetical situations" when asked whether India was making Pakistan granting the most-favoured nation (MFN) status a condition for agreeing to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. "You know the Pakistani Prime Minister is here as Chairperson of SAARC. So the focus is on SAARC issues. Naturally, he is meeting our leadership and as is obvious from today's meeting, bilateral issues are also being discussed. As to what is being discussed in every meeting, it would be very adventurous for me to try and guess."

On the 30-minute-long meeting between Mr. Aziz and the Bharatiya Janata Party president, L.K. Advani, sources close to the BJP leader said the interaction was "very cordial." Mr. Advani is believed to have said that while confidence-building measures between the two countries were good and welcome, finally the dialogue process would have to be seen in its totality.

The problems plaguing the bilateral relationship would also have to be addressed, Mr. Advani is said to have told Mr. Aziz.

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