India, Pakistan to Pick Up Threads From Agra Summit in New York: SpokespersonIndia and Pakistan would pick up the threads from their discussions at Agra and give guidelines for further interaction through a meeting between both countries' leaders in New York scheduled for this September, an Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said here on Monday."We are asking our permanent mission in New York to tie up details of the time and venue etc. (for the meeting) with the Pakistan permanent mission," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee announced on Sunday that he would have a meeting with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in September. All bilateral issues, including Kashmir, are expected to be discussed during the meeting, the prime minister added. The Indian spokesperson said on Monday that Vajpayee had agreed to have the meeting with Musharraf at the latter's invitation. Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi on Friday conveyed to Indian Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer that President Musharraf would like to invite Prime Minister Vajpayee for a meeting in New York, the spokesperson added. Vajpayee and Musharraf had their first summit meeting in more than two years in north India's ancient city of Agra in mid July. The two-day meeting, however, ended without any concrete results due to major differences. Observing that the discussions at Agra were "inconclusive", the Indian spokesperson still termed Agra as "a beginning of a journey " and "commencement of a process". Progress not Possible Without Resolution of Kashmir: MusharrafPakistani President General Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that progress and prosperity of both Pakistan and India could not be achieved unless and until the Kashmir issue is resolved, said a report by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).He said this while addressing the joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad. Musharraf pointed out that Pakistan is prepared to discuss everything with India but Kashmir dispute will remain the top priority as "a key issue" so that progress could be furthered, said the report. He also ensured on the occasion Pakistan's political, diplomatic and moral support for the people of Kashmir who have been struggling for their right to self-determination. According to the president's affirmation, he will meet the Indian Prime Minister in New York on September 19th. |
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