Indo-Pak joint statement dominates Advani's talks with Clinton

New Delhi, July 20 (PTI) India's Leader of Opposition
L K Advani Monday told US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
that the Joint Statement by India and Pakistan delinking
terrorism from composite dialogue had "tried to disrupt the
national consensus" among political parties here on the issue.

Advani also expressed his unhappiness over the
reference to Balochistan in the statement, saying it puts
India "in the dock" on disruptive activities in the region.

"In India, all political parties were one after 26/11
that till Pakistan takes strong measures there cannot be
further progress....This joint statement has tried to disrupt
the national consensus," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said
quoting Advani on his talks with Clinton.

Swaraj said the Joint Statement issued by India and
Pakistan in Sharm-el Sheikh, Egypt was the main topic of
discussion between Advani and Clinton.

"We are in favour of good relations with the US but
any action against this consensus will not get the country's
support," Advani told Clinton.

"Therefore we should not succumb and try to placate
others."

Advani also expressed his ire over the reference to
Balochistan in the statement. "The statement has named
Balochistan as if we are doing something there... as if we are
in the dock," Advani told Clinton, according to Swaraj.

Advani told Clinton that BJP had raised this issue in
Parliament and is concerned that despite the Mumbai attacks,
the Prime Minister has delinked terrorism from the composite
dialogue.

"Advani told her that India and Pakistan can have good
relations but not by such wrong moves," Swaraj said.

In the 45-minute meeting, Advani reportedly told
Clinton that as Leader of Opposition, he was stating India's
position and "wanted her to know the country's concern and
consensus" on the issue and "if she appreciated it, it would
be good".

Swaraj said Advani was "satisfied" with his
interaction with US Secretary of State. "Hillary heard Advani
and did not confront or contradict him," Swaraj added.

Advani told Clinton that during his tenure as Home
Minister, he had dealt with cross-border terrorism by Pakistan
and stated that the then NDA regime was ready to talk to
Pakistan with the hope of improving relations.

He mentioned the two initiatives taken by the NDA
government -- Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's bus
journey to Lahore and the Agra summit, held post-Kargil.

Clinton, on her part, raised "four-five issues"
including climate change. She also told him that she would be
meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi, among others. PTI RC
PMR
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