 |
||
|
||
|
||
General Pervez Musharraf virtually walked out on his host by repeatedly seeking to negate India's position on the contentious issues of cross-border terrorism while a joint declaration was being finalised in Agra.
The final draft of the declaration revised as many as five times - was reached after the finicky General had persuaded the hosts to amend the reference to this issue again and again. And even after the final revision, Mr. Musharraf wasn't happy. And, in a sense, that was the end to the possibility of a joint declaration.
The final draft was ready at 7 pm yesterday. As Pakistan foreign minister Abdul Sattar carried the final draft to the President, he even enquired about the time needed by the Indian authorities to prepare for the formal signing of the declaration.
Ninety minutes, the external affairs ministry officials told him. And they rushed to fetch the red and green folders as well as the silver pens for the signing ceremony. The anticlimax, however, came a little after 9 pm, when the Indian delegation was tersely informed by the Pakistani side hat their President wished to make the final call on Mr. Vajpayee. There was no mention of the declaration. Thus all the drafting efforts had gone in vain.
The first draft had been prepared through Sunday night. On the issue of cross-border terrorism, it is reported to have talked of the two countries 'condemning' cross-border terrorism. When the Prez learnt of it, he promptly suggested that 'condemn' be replaced by 'expressed concern.'
The Indian side agreed to the change, but then Pakistan wanted the word 'cross-border terrorism' replaced with either 'terrorism' or 'violence.' India conceded yet again, hoping that now the draft would be finalised. But the General got even more demanding and suggested the clubbing of the 'concern on violence' with the clause on 'drug trafficking'. This was too much for the Indian leaders, who felt that the Pakistan! side was trying to push the issue of cross-border terrorism into insignificance. Earlier, Pakistan had insisted that the declaration say that the 'solution of the Kashmir issue would pave the way for resolution of other issues.' Following a rejection by India, Mr. Musharraf agreed to revise the clause to 'progress of talks on Kashmir would be conducive to progress on other issues.'
The protracted efforts failed to
produce results, possibly because the Damocles' swords of fundamentalist
pressure was hanging on Mr. Musharraf's head.
|
||
|
||
|
||