New Delhi, Jan 01: India is interested in making the
open-ended ceasefire with Pakistan a "permanent" one, External
Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said here today.
Before emplaning a special IAF Boeing-737 aircraft for
Islamabad for the SAARC summit, he told reporters at Delhi
airport, "India is interested in making this a permanent
ceasefire. It is incumbent on both countries to ensure that
the ceasefire holds.
"It will be our hope that both India And Pakistan will
continue to ensure that this ceasefire remains in place."
Asked whether there will be any bilateral meeting between
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani leaders on
the sidelines of the SAARC summit, Sinha said "there will be
meetings. There will be a number of occasions for official
meetings and meeting socially. Apart from that there is no
other meeting planned."
Bureau Report
