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Musharraf again seeks a dialogue with India

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has told Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that he wants to establish a "tension-free" relationship with India and expressed his readiness for a sustained dialogue with New Delhi to resolve their differences.

"I would like to reiterate our readiness to engage in a serious and sustained dialogue with India to commence together a journey of peace and progress," the general said in his message to Vajpayee on the occasion of Republic Day. "Pakistan desires to establish tension-free and good-neighbourly relations with India."

It is significant that Musharraf chose to send different messages to President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Vajpayee on the occasion. His message to Narayanan simply conveyed a formal message of greeting, but he sent a political message to Vajpayee.

In his message to Narayanan, Musharraf said, "Excellency, on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan, I would like to extend to your Excellency and the people of India our warm greetings on the occasion of the Republic Day of India."

Musharraf's message expressing a desire to have a tension-free relationship with India followed comments from top Pakistani officials in Islamabad that efforts were on to locate the 14 persons figuring on India's list of 20 wanted criminals and terrorists.

Commenting on Musharraf's message, diplomatic sources in the Pakistani capital said future efforts to reduce tension between the countries hinged on decisive action by Pakistan on that list.

PTI

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