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Advani favours Indo-Pak confederation

Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani today expressed himself in favour of a confederation of India and Pakistan.

He said this could be achieved by continuing with the exercise of normalising relations between the two countries, which had begun with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's historic bus journey to Lahore last month.

After laying the foundation stone of a Rs9.953 million project to upgrade the Wagah check-post and construct a viewers' gallery, the home minister said the confederation would only be possible through the efforts of the two governments and the people.

"We must move towards creating a congenial atmosphere and lessening suspicion," he said.

Only when both governments realise that Partition has not helped either country and is not favoured by the common man will the concept of a confederation become a reality, he said. He, however, ruled out a merger of India and Pakistan.

Referring to the Vajpayee government's commitment to establish normal ties with Pakistan, he said, "We are exerting ourselves in this direction and are committed to peace."

Law-and-order can be tackled at a different level, but the process of normalising relations is necessary, he said, when questioned about the killings in Rajouri and Udhampur last month, on the eve of Vajpayee's visit to Pakistan.

Earlier, addressing a 'sainik sammelan' (conference of military men) at the Amritsar sector headquarters of the Border Security Force at Khasa on the city's outskirts, Advani said Vajpayee's bus 'yatra' to Pakistan had proved fruitful for the country and the government.

He said normalisation of ties with Pakistan would help divert resources that are being spent on strengthening the armed forces to developmental activities.

As for the government, the "three Bs" -- bus yatra, Budget and Bihar, had conveyed that it is not only stable, but working as well, he said.

UNI

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