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NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz arrived here on Tuesday on the last leg of his three-nation tour as the Saarc chairman amid hopes that his talks with the Indian leadership, aimed at sustainable peace in South Asia, would move from tactical to strategic issues.
This is Mr Aziz's first visit to India as prime minister, taking place exactly one year after Pakistan announced a unilateral cease fire along the Line of Control.
At Delhi's Palam airport the prime minister was received by Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Shivshankar Menon and Pakistan High Commissioner to India Aziz Ahmed Khan.
In sharp contrast to his arrival in Sri Lanka and Maldives, where he had been received by the Lankan prime minister and the Maldivian president and given guard of honour, Mr Aziz was not presented a guard of honour here. The explanation given for that was that the Indian government was treating it as a 'working visit'.
Talking to journalists accompanying him minutes before landing at the airport, the prime minister said: "We are looking forward to the talks and we hope it will lead to stability in South Asia and help promote the objectives of Saarc."
When quizzed about his expectations on the bilateral front, his response was: "We hope it will augur well for the peace process and that we will be able to move from tactical issues to strategic issues."
Shortly after the prime minister reached Hotel Taj Mahal, where he is staying, Mr Aziz received a 'welcome call' from his Indian counterpart Dr Manmohan Singh.
The Indian premier expressed satisfaction over the dialogue process and said he was looking forward to his meeting with Mr Aziz. Dr Singh's message was that India and Pakistan could together change history, setting a positive tone for his first interaction with Mr Aziz on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the Indian prime minister's office, Dr Singh also conveyed his greetings to President Pervez Musharraf. He told Mr Aziz that the world had "lived through times where what was simply unacceptable in international relations has become a norm. Who could say some 20 years ago that the Berlin Wall would be a thing of the past."
Dr Singh said that his 'hope and prayer' was that "we can set in motion a similar process in this sub-continent. I earnestly and sincerely will work to that end." Reciprocating, Mr Aziz conveyed President Musharraf's 'warm regards' to the Indian leader.
Later, Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh called on the prime minister at the hotel's presidential suite. He conveyed to Mr Aziz that he was held in high esteem in India and his commitment to the dialogue process was appreciated. Also, Mr Natwar said that India was ready to talk to Pakistan on all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.
"The climate is proper and without hesitation we want to talk to you on Jammu and Kashmir. Future generations will not forgive us if we prolong this agony," Mr Natwar told the prime minister who welcomed the Indian approach. Both agreed that addressing all outstanding bilateral issues was vital to take the dialogue process forward.
MEETINGS WITH ADVANI & VAJPAYEE: Later, L.K. Advani, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, called on the prime minister and assured him that his Bharatiya Janata Party supported the peace process. He underlined the need for resolution of all bilateral issues to promote peace and progress in the region.
Mr Aziz extended an invitation to Mr Advani to visit Pakistan to which the latter responded that he would undertake the tour in January or February after the parliament session.
In the evening, the prime minister went to meet former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Krishna Menon Marg. During their 30-minute one-to-one meeting, Mr Vajpayee assured Mr Aziz that although he no longer was in office, his party would continue to support the peace process.
Later, Mr Vajpayee told newsmen that he had a 'very good' meeting with Mr Aziz. Mr Vajpayee said he was happy to see that Mr Aziz was now the prime minister, adding that in January when he visited Pakistan as the premier Mr Aziz, then finance minister, was appointed his minister-in-waiting.
Mr Vajpayee disagreed with a view that the peace process had slowed down after the change of government in India, saying it took time for a new government to settle down. He said he would push hard for taking it forward if he sensed any slowing down of the process.
Mr Aziz said that Pakistan would continue to move the process in a positive direction and underscored the need for resolving the Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of all the three stakeholders - Pakistan, India and Kashmiris.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Aziz will hold talks with his Indian counterpart at the Hyderabad House. The talks would be followed by lunch to which it was being speculated that Mehbooba Mufti, president of occupied Kashmir's ruling People's Democratic Party, had also been also invited by the Indian prime minister.
It is learnt that the Indian premier had called Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq and invited him over for tea. However, the Mirwaiz declined the invitation. Mr Aziz would also call on President Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.
He would start the day with a visit to the shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia after which he would have an interactive session with intellectuals and editors of Indian newspapers.
