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Cease-fire has not had desired effect: PM

Archana Masih

The cease-fire in Jammu and Kashmir has not had the desired effect, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told reporters in Bombay on Saturday.

Though his twice circulated media statement dealt with the Gujarat earthquake, it was J&K that hogged most of Vajpayee's time at the press conference. Responding to a light remark that his statement had been revised and circulated for a second time with some changes, he said it was indicative of his ever agile thought process.

Speaking on the eve of the meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Security in Delhi on Sunday, Vajpayee said Pakistan's response to the cease-fire has been disappointing. "The people of J&K want peace. We had hoped that Pakistan would restrain the militants, but it hasn't." Unless Pakistan responds adequately to the cease-fire, he said, there is no question of talks with that nation's chief executive, General Pervez Musharraf.

Vajpayee refused to reveal whether the cease-fire would be extended or withdrawn, only saying the people of J&K had benefited from his government's decision. "A combined Cabinet decision will be taken on this on Sunday," the prime minister said. He did not doubt that his government had taken the right decision to cease military operations in the state. "This time it was a good decision to extend it further (till February 26). The people of Kashmir heaved a sigh of relief," he felt.

But he did agree that the cease-fire had turned out to be a one sided affair. He added that though the government had identified certain militant groups and asked them to reduce their activities, they (the militants) had failed to respect the cease-fire.

India, he said, is ready for talks with Pakistan, but that nation must create a conducive climate for discussion. "There cannot be militancy on one side, and talk of talks on the other side," Vajpayee declared, "I went to Lahore for the sake of peace, and the rest is history."

The prime minister said the massacre of Sikhs in Kashmir last fortnight had been condemned by both the central and state governments. He counselled the Sikhs to be patient, and said there was no fear of them leaving the state. "The J&K government and the Centre has tried and succeeded in helping the affected people," he said.

The issue of granting passports to Hurriyat leaders, he said in response to one question, was still under consideration.

Vajpayee issued a detailed statement on the Gujarat earthquake and said the newly constituted National Committee for Disaster Management will concentrate on relief and rehabilitation work in Gujarat. He further stated that experience of the last two years had shown that state government agencies were not well equipped to handle such disasters.

"This central organisation for natural calamities will be able to provide immediate help to the states concerned," he said. The premier expressed hope that similar committees could then be constituted in the states as well.

Back in the city for the first time after his knee operation last October, Vajpayee seemed cheerful. He commended Indians and NRIs on the humanity shown by them in helping the quake victims. "This is a good sign and part of our tradition," he said.

India has condemned the American and British bombing of Iraq on Friday. The prime minister said India had consistently opposed the unilateral imposition of no fly zones upon Iraq. It was not within the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Aerial bombardment of targets in Iraq to impose such zones was unacceptable. Such strikes cause unnecessary and avoidable suffering upon innocent people.

"India is in favour of lifting sanctions on Iraq in tandem with Iraq's adherence to the United Nations Security Council Resolution," Vajpayee said. "That is the only way for Iraq to be brought back into the mainstream of regional and international politics."

The Kashmir ceasefire: The complete coverage

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