On board the special aircraft, May 16: Expressing the hope that the third peace initiative of India has a "scope" in the present international climate, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said India was not asking Pakistan to change its views on Kashmir but on terrorism. Citing the Agra summit where India and Pakistan had decided to talk on every issue including Kashmir, he said: "Today also I want to emphasise that we are not asking them to abandon their views on Kashmir but change their views on terrorism." Advani was talking to reporters accompanying him on a day-long visit to Mumbai. Asked whether the third peace attempt on India's part would be yet another still-born child like Lahore and Agra summits, he replied in the negative. The latest initiative had a scope due to various reasons one of which was that those states which were sponsoring terrorism will find it difficult to continue on their path due to international climate, the deputy prime minister said. Reacting to statements made by Pakistani leaders in the recent past that there was no change in their attitude to Kashmir, he said India has acknowledged there was a basic difference of views between the two countries on Kashmir. India wanted to see a change in Pakistan's views on terrorism, he said, adding Islamabad had been emphasising that peace could not be established between the two countries due to only one reason - Kashmir. During the Agra summit, the DyPM said he had told Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that dialogue was the only way that both countries should look for as a solution to resolve all the issues including Kashmir and not through use of war - both direct and proxy. "Today also I am emphasising the same", Advani said. He maintained that the two countries could have serious differences on Kashmir but pledge that they will not hold peace to ransom. "For which we will hold talks and see where we can go," he said adding this was what he had told Musharraf during the Agra summit.

Bureau Report