Pranab calls on Antony over Lanka deadlock

While developments in Pakistan are being watched closely by the Indian government, it is the situation in Sri Lanka which is being actively considered by the government.

After a round of meetings initiated by Lalita Weeratunga, special envoy of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Defence Minister A K Antony today.

According to top sources in the government, the external affairs ministry is wrestling with the problem of increased air attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Yet, at the same time, it does not want to escalate the violence through arms exports to Sri Lanka.

A political problem also looms for the UPA government since the DMK and other Dravidian parties form a large chunk of the government.

"It is a tough situation but we are convinced that a solution lies in dialogue and talks. The all-party group looking at the problem has come up with a draft for a solution, which we were shown when Weeratunga came to Delhi," said a senior minister who is privy to the talks.

"Yet the problem remains that the LTTE is a banned terrorist outfit, and within hitting distance of India. That is a worry and although we have strengthened our defence systems in the south, it remains a worry," he said.

The meeting between the defence and the external affairs minister has been initiated by the external affairs ministry. Weerantunge not only met these two ministers but also Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni in a clear bid to exert all possible influence on the government to come to the aid of a beleaguered Sri Lankan defence. Mukherjee and Antony reviewed the genuine possibilities raised by the all-party draft.

"To the government, the successful political dialogue appears to be the only way forward. We are still chary of supplying arms to aid the conflict," said the minister.