Gujral flays 'mediation' offer on Kashmir

In an apparent reference to the Kashmir issue, Prime Minister I K Gujral on Wednesday flayed third-party interference in disputes in the guise of ''mediators or otherwise''.

Addressing a series of meetings in South Africa, the prime minister said India believes that durable peace can come from direct negotiation between the parties. Other parties's interference further complicates and aggravates the disputes.

Referring to the Comprehensive (Nuclear) Test Ban Treaty, the prime minister said the viable option was to place such treaties squarely within a disarmament framework and to pursue a regime that is non-discriminatory.

UNI