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Musharraf must keep his word: PM

Terror threat yet to abate: Singh

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Our Political Bureau New Delhi
He said the threat from terrorism had not abated, despite a productive visit by the Pakistan President and that he expected Islamabad to implement its assurances in letter and spirit.
 
The "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" note struck in his statement suggests that while celebrating the atmospherical change brought about by Musharraf's visit, India has decided to keep its powder dry.
 
On the Wen visit and China's stand on India's membership of the UN Security Council, Singh told Parliament: "China conveyed that it attached great importance to the status of India in international affairs and understood and supported India's desire to play an active role in the UN and international affairs".
 
This formulation underlines in Parliament, China's ambivalence in supporting India's claim to the UN Security Council.
 
On his engagement with Musharraf, Singh said: "While I am satisfied with the progress achieved in our talks during the visit we should remain conscious of the difficulties ahead".
 
The difficult issues that divide the two countries had bedevilled relations for far too long to hope for an immediate resolution, he said.
 
"The threat to the peace process from extremists and terrorist organisations has not been eliminated. I mentioned to Mush-arraf that the whole process of serious and sustained dialogue hinges on building an atmosphere of trust and confidence, free from violence and terror. We look forward to Pakistan implementing their assurances in letter and spirit," Singh said.
 
The Prime Minister repeated India's approach on talks with China which hinged on "proactively resolving outstanding differences while not letting them come in the way of continued development of relations".
 
Singh cautioned that while during Wen's visit, the two sides had developed principles for a political settlement of the boundary question, "we do acknowledge that we are still quite some distance away from a final boundary settlement".
 
He clarified that the Sino-Indian partnership reached during the visit was not "in the nature of a military pact or alliance but reflects a congruence of purpose apart from a common perception of world events".

 
 

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First Published: Apr 21 2005 | 12:00 AM IST

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