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`Difficult for PM to attend SAARC summit`: Mishra
New Delhi, Nov.27: In the absence of any `substance` to the SAARC summit in Pakistan in January, it is ``very difficult`` for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to go to Islamabad, national security advisor Brajesh Mishra has said while asserting that Pakistan has done ``absolutely nothing`` to end cross-border terrorism.
New Delhi, Nov.27: In the absence of any "substance" to the SAARC summit in Pakistan in January, it is ''very difficult'' for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to go to Islamabad, national security advisor Brajesh Mishra has said while asserting that Pakistan has done ''absolutely nothing'' to end cross-border terrorism.
If the ideas put forward in Kathmandu during the SAARC ministerial-level meeting were implemented by December-end as agreed to, ''we could consider it. But in the absence of any substance to the summit, of course its very difficult for the prime minister to go'', he said. New Delhi has accused Pakistan of stymying progress on Sapta and Safta and for not giving Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.
Mishra made it clear that India was prepared to restart negotiations with Pakistan if it showed sincerety and honoured its pledge to end cross-border terrorism.
''We are ready to begin a dialogue with Pakistan tomorrow if it gives up cross-border terrorism,'' Mishra said. However, he said ''it has done absolutely nothing'' in this regard.
The Prime Minister's top aide admitted that India and Pakistan were ''pretty close'' to war in January following the attack on parliament as also in may this year in the wake of the terrorist strike on an army transit camp in Jammu where families of soldiers were living. Bureau Report
If the ideas put forward in Kathmandu during the SAARC ministerial-level meeting were implemented by December-end as agreed to, ''we could consider it. But in the absence of any substance to the summit, of course its very difficult for the prime minister to go'', he said. New Delhi has accused Pakistan of stymying progress on Sapta and Safta and for not giving Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.
Mishra made it clear that India was prepared to restart negotiations with Pakistan if it showed sincerety and honoured its pledge to end cross-border terrorism.
''We are ready to begin a dialogue with Pakistan tomorrow if it gives up cross-border terrorism,'' Mishra said. However, he said ''it has done absolutely nothing'' in this regard.
The Prime Minister's top aide admitted that India and Pakistan were ''pretty close'' to war in January following the attack on parliament as also in may this year in the wake of the terrorist strike on an army transit camp in Jammu where families of soldiers were living. Bureau Report