Musharraf, Vajpayee Meet Informally Amid Hopes

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 07, 2002

Musharraf, Vajpayee Meet Informally Amid Hopes

President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had several informal interactions at the SAARC summit including a closed-door meeting for one hour, amid some signs that the situation may ease, although no immediate breakthrough was claimed by either side.

General Musharraf hoped formal bilateral negotiations would be held in the near future on all issues. Vajpayee was quoted as saying on Sunday peace talks with Pakistan had come to a temporary halt and would be resumed in the future. "We are neighbours and we've had talks in the past," Yubaraj Ghimire, editor of Nepal's largest selling daily, Kantipur, quoted Vajpayee as telling a meeting of Nepalese editors. "The talks have stopped now. But they will take place in the future."

President Musharraf was accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and the Indian contingent comprised of Atal Behari Vajpayee, Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, who later described the meeting as a "courtesy call". Sources said the urgent dialogue session took place in the wake of the US diplomatic attempts to end hostility between the two countries. The US Foreign Secretary of State Colin Powell had played a key role in this regard, who remained in contact with both Indian and Pakistan delegates on Saturday.

Addressing a packed hall at the Birendra International Convention Centre here on Sunday, President Musharraf hinted at a possible breakthrough between India and Pakistan, courtesy his "informal" encounters with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. He made it clear that he did not hold formal bilateral talks with Vajpayee. "We got a chance to sit together and chat on various occasions in the presence of other leaders," he said.

However, Musharraf made it clear the tension had neither defused nor worsened because of the informal meetings, saying the mingling of the leaders of the two countries would surely help in de-escalation of hostility in the days to come. "A situation has been created where the future is better. I look forward to friendship with India. One hopes it is a breakthrough."

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