Vajpayee says Pakistan 'clutched' his hand of friendship

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, January 12, 2004

Vajpayee says Pakistan 'clutched' his hand of friendship

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Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said Sunday that Pakistan has, though late, "clutched" his hand of friendship and this has opened a new chapter to usher in peace and prosperity between the two neighbors.

"The accord in Islamabad (to resume a composite dialogue) has opened a new chapter for peace and promotion of trade between the two countries, and I am confident that it would be implemented," Vajpayee said while addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad, southern India, on the opening day of a two-day national conference of India's ruling party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Regretting the failure of the previous Lahore and Agra summits, Vajpayee said this time the Pakistani leadership had "clutched" the hand of friendship that he extended in Srinagar, capital of the India-controlled Kashmir on April 18 last year.

"I am happy, though late, the Pakistan leadership has clutched my hand of friendship which I had extended in Srinagar after completion of the successful Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir where people rejected the gun.

"We want to resolve all our disputes through negotiations and dialogue," he said.

Recalling that he discussed closer bilateral trade ties with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf during their talks in Islamabad, Vajpayee described as "strange" that Pakistan imported goods through air and sea routes whereas the commodities were readily available in India.

"We are absolutely ready to fulfill the needs of the neighbor and I am confident that the new year would bring peace and harmony," he said.

Maintaining that India wants friendly ties with all its neighbors, Vajpayee said "India wants peace on its borders and peace within the country."

The Indian leader said that India wanted to work together with Pakistan and hoped that the ceasefire reached between the two sides along the Line of Control and in Siachen would be observed and there will be an end to cross-border terrorism.

Vajpayee and Musharraf met Monday on the sidelines of the 12th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held in Islamabad. And the two countries agreed to start composite dialogue next month.

Source: Xinhua

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