February 6, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 4,1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

SINGAPORE, Feb 5: India’s Deputy Prime Minister Lal K. Advani on Wednesday expressed willingness to talk with Pakistan about Kashmir.

During a visit to Singapore, the Indian minister said he was willing to discuss the different views over the territory.

“Historically, constitutionally and legally, Jammu-Kashmir is part and parcel of India. If Pakistan has a different view, we are willing to talk about it,” he said.

Mr Advani said the Agra talks between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee collapsed because Pakistan would not budge in its denial of any involvement in the Kashmir “independence struggle.”

On Wednesday, President Musharraf pledged the country’s moral, diplomatic and political support” to the freedom struggle and urged the international community to pressure India to allow Kashmiris to determine their future through a vote. Mr Advani dismissed the suggestion.—APP