Pak must not figure in Gujral-Clinton summit: India

India has made it clear to the United States that the problems with Pakistan should not figure in the proposed Gujral-Clinton summit at New York next month.

The scope of the discussion should be confined to bilateral issues between India and the United States, Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral said while initiating a discussion on ''India and the world'' in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Kashmir issue should be sorted out between India and Pakistan and there is no scope for a trilateral initiative by any country, the prime minister said amid thumping of desks by the members.

The relations with the United States are improving, he said, and four top leaders including President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright are scheduled to visit India.

Admitting that relations with Pakistan are yet to improve, the prime minister said India is willing to go more than half way to improve relations with its neighbour. He, however, made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and it is non- negotiable.

Gujral also referred to the disturbing report that nuclear powers are making new target-oriented weapons to avoid the provisions of the Comprehensive (Nuclear) Test Ban Treaty.

Those who have signed the CTBT are doing what they should not be doing, he said, adding that these nations are putting pressure on India to sign the treaty. While these powers are lecturing India not to resort to arms race, they themselves are promoting it in their region.

UNI

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