NEW DELHI, Dec 1: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Sunday ruled out an early visit to Islamabad, saying he neither saw Pakistan avoiding the Kashmir issue at the Saarc summit nor did he see any change of policy under Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali.
Vajpayee was quoted as telling reporters in Shimla that he would go to the Saarc meeting if Pakistan puts a complete halt to “cross-border terrorism” before the event is held.
“What is the use of going to Pakistan for Saarc meeting when Pakistan is not prepared to talk on any issue except Kashmir,” he told the media in Shimla.
Vajpayee reiterated that Kashmir was a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and not something to be discussed during Saarc meetings.
He accused Pakistan of not doing its bit on the recommendations regarding economic cooperation agreed on in previous Saarc meetings.
He said he did not see any change on Islamabad’s stand towards India following installation of a new government.
