New Delhi, Oct 25: Defence Minister George Fernandes
today said the slew of measures offered to Pakistan were part
of India's "last effort" to take Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee's peace initiative to its logical end and make
Islamabad sit across the negotiating table.
"We did make an effort in the very first instance and
that effort must be taken to its logical end," he told a news channel.
"What the Prime Minister has done is to make one last
effort to see that it is taken to its logical end. In other
words, we succeed in bringing Pakistan to sit across the table to resolve whatever it is that divides us," Fernandes said.
Asked whether he was quite categorical that it was the
last effort made by the prime minister, the Defence Minister
said "he (Vajpayee) used that term" during his public meeting
in Sringar.
Fernandes said a lot of people had tried to impress upon
Vajpayee not to say that it was the last effort and we should
continue to make efforts.
"The fact of the matter is that ultimately even the
Prime Minister can get tired," he said.
Bureau Report
