Guwahati, Dec 05: Defence Minister George Fernandes
today said the positive direction that efforts at improving
Indo-Pak relations has taken should continue and only improve
further, while criticising eastern neighbour Bangladesh for
not taking action against Ulfa and NDFB extremist camps on its
territory.
"Talks are the best way to settle disputes and not the
battlefield. The positive direction that our efforts at
improving Indo-Pak relations has taken should continue without
deteriorating, but only improve further," Fernandes said while
addressing defence personnel at the Narengi army base here.
Stating that India was making efforts for the fourth time
to hold talks with Islamabad, he said", Pakistan was earlier
not amenable to India's conditions for talks, but they are
slowly come around and Prime Minister A B Vajpayee will go to
the SAARC summit in Islamabad where he will meet President
Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali."
He said "Pakistan offered ceasefire upto the Line of
Control, but when we wanted it up to Siachen they promptly
agreed. They also agreed to our demand for halt to
cross-border terrorism."
"It is a joint effort by both sides to ease tension
between the two countries, he said.
Stating talks were also on with Beijing to improve
bilateral ties, Fernandes said, he and the Prime Minister had
visited China and held serious discussions with the leaders
there.
Bureau Report
