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Vajpayee warns Pak against proxy war

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today warned Pakistan not to use Indian territory for a proxy war.

Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President's address to the joint session of Parliament, the prime minister said that he categorically told his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharief that relations will not make any headway if the killings of innocent people by foreign mercenaries continue in Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that New Delhi and Islamabad have taken several measures, including removal of visa restriction and prevention of an outbreak of nuclear war, to create tension-free security environment in the region.

Pakistan must stop its support to militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that it was a great achievement for India when Pakistan in the historic Lahore Declaration committed to work with New Delhi to fight terrorism.

Referring to the steps taken by the two countries to further normalise relations, Vajpayee said the rigid visa regime will be liberalised. Eminent personalities like judges, artists, members of Parliament and scholars will be allowed to visit any part of the country without any restriction. They will not have to report to the police anymore.

However, he said that talks in this regard were at a crucial stage.

He said the Lahore Declaration was based on the Simla agreement. ''We have added new importance to the Simla agreement, which was lying in cold storage. Pakistan has agreed to implement it in letter and spirit,'' he said.

The prime minister recalled that his party had opposed the signing of the Simla agreement because ''we were of the firm opinion that the situation at that time was in favour to find a solution to the Jammu and Kashmir issue''.

On the Sino-Indian ties, Vajpayee said that the irritants in the relations following India's nuclear tests had been removed in the wake of recent official level talks between the two countries.

The joint working group on the boundary question would meet very shortly to ensure peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control.

Justifying India's nuclear tests last year, the prime minister said, ''Our security concerns forced us to take the step'', which is now being appreciated by the international community.

An impression had been created that India would be isolated and sanctions were used as a tool in this regard, but ''we held our ground''.

He assured the House that India did not want to get into an arms race in the subcontinent and that was why it had extended a hand of friendship to all its neighbours.

India has been a votary of global nuclear disarmament and would relentlessly continue its efforts to this direction.

He said the Centre was prepared to talk to the militants in Jammu and Kashmir within the framework of the Constitution, but asked them to surrender arms to create a congenial atmosphere for the dialogue.

The situation in the state has improved to a great extent, though stray incidents were still taking place. ''We must try to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir a sense of belonging. Peace is imperative for the development of the state.''

UNI

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