September 23, 2002	Monday	Rajab 15, 1423

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NEW DELHI, Sept 22: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Sunday ruled out any resumption of talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, saying there had been “no change” in Islamabad’s stand.

“I do not think there has been any change in their attitude. The way they have been trying to disrupt the elections in the (held) state shows there is no change in their stand,” Vajpayee said before leaving on a four-day official visit to the Maldives.

“If Islamabad closes terrorist training camps and stops all logistic support to the militants, a conducive atmosphere could be created for talks,” the prime minister added, as quoted by the United News of India (UNI).

India’s junior external affairs minister, Digvijay Singh, who was at the airport to send off Vajpayee, said New Delhi was not averse to holding talks with Islamabad if the right atmosphere was created.

“We have been making continued efforts for peace, the Lahore bus ride and Agra summit are examples in this direction,” he said, referring to two previous attempts at substantive negotiations between Pakistan and India.

“But Pakistan has been doing its best to disrupt the poll process,” Singh added.—AFP