‘If not a breakthrough, we should prevent breakdown’

K. Natwar Singh

Former External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, who now holds the same shadow post for the Congress Party in Opposition, has only modest expectations from the Indo-Pakistan summit. He spoke to SONIA TRIKHA on the eve of his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, along with party chief Sonia Gandhi and other colleagues to discuss the issues likely to come up at the Musharraf-Vajpayee talks.

What is the reaction of the Congress Party to the summit

THE Congress party has been in favour of India having a dialogue with Pakistan. We welcomed the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir but at the same time stressed that the ceasefire could not be an end in itself. The objective has to be an end to cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. To achieve it we have to talk to Pakistan because that is where the terrorists get money, arms and intelligence and that is where they get refuge.

What do you make of the statements emerging from Pakistan in the run-up to the summit?

THE initial reactions were positive but in the last few days the tone of the statements is not conducive to having a proper atmosphere for the Musharraf-Vajpayee summit. The real objectionable parts are statements like Kashmir is the core issue. The announcement that the delegation will comprise only 19 people not 63 and that it will not include any ministers of Trade, Industry or Agriculture. Also, Pakistan has not responded to friendly gestures on visas.

The excessive media hype hasn’t helped either. It has been creating a climate that gives the impression that there will be a breakthrough in talks. I don’t think there will be a breakthrough, our effort now should be to avoid a breakdown.

How do we avoid the breakdown?

GENERAL Musharraf still has the time to take two-three steps to ensure India’s confidence in him. Kargil was very much his doing but India has put that behind. Now he must categorically declare that he supports the Shimla Agreement and Lahore Declaration. Also, that he will put an end to cross-border terrorism. At the moment, however, it seems as though he is laying down a unilateral agenda.

What do think of the government’s handling of the Hurriyat issue and would you be going to the Pakistan High Commissioner’s tea party?

I THINK Musharraf’s contacting the Hurriyat even after the Government of India has expressed displeasure is to say the least being insensitive to Indian realities. Our own government could have handled the Hurriyat question with greater skill. The government has made a non-issue into an issue. On the one hand, government ministers will be attending the tea on July 14, on the other they don’t want opposition to go. Heads I win, tails you lose. You can’t have one set of protocol rules for the government and another for the Opposition. Besides on the national day of Pakistan which is attended by the Vice President of India, the Hurriyat is invited.

If the Pakistan High Commissioner has invited the Hurriyat along with 500 others then the Congress Party will attend because the Foreign Minister of India is attending and General Musharraf is a guest of the Prime Minister.

But if General Musharraf is having an exclusive meeting with the Hurriyat that will be unacceptable to Congress.

How do you assess Musharraf’s pre-summit behaviour?

GOING by the latest noises, he is still a prisoner of the past. With such a mindset it is difficult to see how substantial progress can be made. Our Prime Minister is showing great restraint by not responding to the parroting of phrases which enshrine the past. President Musharraf is not coming to a defeated country and it will not help matters if he adopts the tone and gestures of a commander-in-chief. He’s new to diplomacy and I hope his foreign minister — a very seasoned diplomat — will give the general a few diplomatic tips.

There is consensus among all parties, including yours, that Kashmir cannot be the only topic for discussion but Pakistan has already defined its agenda as being only Kashmir.

THE sad fact is that for 54 years Pakistan has a one-point foreign policy and that is Jammu and Kashmir and any improvement in Indo-Pak relations is looked at with suspicion by defence establishment of Pakistan. We hope General Musharraf will transcend this mind set.

Also he will move towards a broader agenda when he arrives in India and sees the expectations here. Besides, he will have no choice but to listen to the Prime Minister on a variety of issues because General Musharraf’s response to Vajpayee’s letter says he is willing to listen to anything.

What would the Congress like to see emerge from the summit?

Both countries should aim at a modest outcome. But at least three resolutions must be made which announce the reopening of the consulates general in Mumbai and Karachi because this reduce inconvenience to the people. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in Lahore 1999 should be given concrete shape so that different Working Groups can meet on different issues including the nuclear issue.

At the end, a statement should be issued to say the President of Pakistan has invited the Prime Minister to visit Islamabad and the Prime Minister has accepted. A breakthrough is asking for too much, but a breakdown at this stage would be a severe setback. I’m only too aware that diplomacy offers hope but not diplomatic nirvana.