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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 17, 2002

Vajpayee to Visit Pakistan for South Asian Summit, Pakistan to Withdraw Troops from Border

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will visit Pakistan to attend the next South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation summit scheduled for January 2003, a state minister said Thursday.


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Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will go to Pakistan for the coming South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit next January, junior foreign minister Digvijay Singh said to media Thursday.

"The Indian prime minister will go to Pakistan for the SAARC summit next year," Singh said, adding "He is going there for the SAARC summit, not for the bilateral process."

SAARC groups seven countries of the region and conducts an annual summit of heads of state and government. But the meetings have often been canceled because of differences between India and Pakistan, the two major members.

Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf both attended the SAARC summit last January in Kathmandu, and had a handshake that surprised but welcomed by the world. However, India insisted that it conducted no bilateral talks with Pakistan at the meeting.

Pakistan to Withdraw Troops from Border with India
Pakistan will withdraw troops from its border with India "shortly," a Foreign Ministry statement said Thursday, following a similar announcement by India on Wednesday to withdraw troops from the border by phase.

Pakistan welcomes India's announcement of withdrawal of its troops from front positions, Information Minister Nisar Memon said on Thursday.

The minister said in a interview with foreign reporters that it is a good step, but if India wants to establish good relations with Pakistan, it must completely de-escalate the situation.

At the same time, he said, they should also announce that they want to negotiate with Pakistan.

Memon said India had been escalating the situation on the border since last December and certainly they were also worried about the intense situation.

Asked weather Pakistan would take some goodwill gesture in response to India's withdrawal, the minister said, "We will first see their measures. They should give their complete comprehensive plan so that we could also reply to their step."


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