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K J M Varma in Islamabad
Ahead of the proposed second Indo-Pak summit in New York later next month, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday reopened the controversy over the Agra meeting claiming that he and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee came close to signing a joint declaration twice, but failed as 'hardliners' in the Indian Government 'prevailed over' Vajpayee not to do so.
In his address to Northern Areas Legislative Council in Uiluil, he said, "On July 16, the last day of the two-day summit, Vajpayee had agreed on the draft declaration at 1330 hrs and was ready to sign the same."
"I was certain that Vajpayee would sign the declaration in which the centrality of Kashmir issue was agreed upon. But the hardliners prevailed over the Indian Prime Minister," the official APP news agency quoted him as saying.
He said after finalisation of the mutually agreed declaration, he returned to his hotel to change his dress, as he was to proceed to Ajmer Sharif after the 'signing ceremony'.
But soon after he reached his hotel, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar informed him that the things have gone wrong and the Indians were saying that the cabinet did not approve the declaration.
"I was astonished, as there was no Indian cabinet in Agra except for two or three Ministers, including Lal Kishenchand Advani," he said.
Musharraf claimed the Indians sent an amended draft later in the evening.
"We also agreed to sign the second draft. We were told that the signing ceremony would take place within 15 minutes or so. But nothing happened," he claimed.
He said in both the drafts, the centrality of the Kashmir issue was recognised.
He said Pakistan would continue its moral, diplomatic and political support to Kashmiris till the resolution of the Kashmir issue, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
He said Pakistan had firm belief that without solving the Kashmir issue peace could not be achieved in the region.
"The centrality of Kashmir issue cannot be denied and we will keep on emphasising the point. Kashmiris also cannot be ignored in the process. We have to seek their opinion at some stage," he said.
Musharraf said there were indications that Vajpayee wanted to meet him in New York.
"I have also sent a message that if the desire is there, we would certainly meet in New York. We want to discuss the issue to resolve it peacefully."
Complete coverage of the Agra Summit
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