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Terror must stop before any meaningful talks:UK
London, June 16: Britain today concurred with India that no meaningful dialogue is possible for normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan till cessation of cross-border terrorism and dismantling of infrastructure of terrorism.
London, June 16: Britain today concurred with India that no meaningful dialogue is possible for normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan till cessation of cross-border terrorism and dismantling of infrastructure of terrorism.
"Prime Minister Tony Blair fully appreciated the views expressed by India`s Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani that no dialogue is meaningful till the infrastructure of terrorism is dismantled and there is complete cessation of cross-border terrorism," Ronen Sen, India`s high commissioner told newsmen briefing on Advani`s discussions here.
During the 50-minute discussion, Blair expressed his "sincere hope" that there would be an adequate response from the government of Pakistan. President Musharraf would be meeting him tomorrow and that he would share this sentiments and assessments with him.
Home secretary N Gopalaswami, who had attended Advani`s meetings with Blair and later with the home secretary David Blunkett, was also present at the briefing. Answering questions, Sen said Britain did not raise the question of India deputing its troops to Iraq though the issue of India`s role in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country figured prominently.
Reflecting the close relations between the two countries, breaking the protocol, Blair received Advani with a warm handshake at the doorstep of 10 Downing Street and saw him off personally at the doorstep.
The Advani-Blair meeting originally scheduled for 30 minutes went on for 47 minutes to be precise.
The meeting was held in a very warm and congenial atmosphere. It was held in the garden of the Prime Minister`s office-cum-residence. Unusually, it was a good day, with bright sunshine and a clear sky as the two leaders pulled up the chairs in the garden. "It is also an indication that the personal chemistry of the two leaders was very close. The entire talk was held in a spirit of true friendship between the world`s oldest democracy and the world`s largest democracy," the high commissioner said.
In response to a query, Advani told Blair that ever since Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had taken the renewed peace initiative and extended his hand of friendship with Pakistan, there has not been any appreciable change and the terror situation on the ground continued.
"At the same time, we initiated the steps for a composite dialogue on all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir. Blair expressed his sincere hope that there will be an adequate response from the government of Pakistan," Sen said. Bureau Report
During the 50-minute discussion, Blair expressed his "sincere hope" that there would be an adequate response from the government of Pakistan. President Musharraf would be meeting him tomorrow and that he would share this sentiments and assessments with him.
Home secretary N Gopalaswami, who had attended Advani`s meetings with Blair and later with the home secretary David Blunkett, was also present at the briefing. Answering questions, Sen said Britain did not raise the question of India deputing its troops to Iraq though the issue of India`s role in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country figured prominently.
Reflecting the close relations between the two countries, breaking the protocol, Blair received Advani with a warm handshake at the doorstep of 10 Downing Street and saw him off personally at the doorstep.
The Advani-Blair meeting originally scheduled for 30 minutes went on for 47 minutes to be precise.
The meeting was held in a very warm and congenial atmosphere. It was held in the garden of the Prime Minister`s office-cum-residence. Unusually, it was a good day, with bright sunshine and a clear sky as the two leaders pulled up the chairs in the garden. "It is also an indication that the personal chemistry of the two leaders was very close. The entire talk was held in a spirit of true friendship between the world`s oldest democracy and the world`s largest democracy," the high commissioner said.
In response to a query, Advani told Blair that ever since Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had taken the renewed peace initiative and extended his hand of friendship with Pakistan, there has not been any appreciable change and the terror situation on the ground continued.
"At the same time, we initiated the steps for a composite dialogue on all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir. Blair expressed his sincere hope that there will be an adequate response from the government of Pakistan," Sen said. Bureau Report