NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Fernandes rules out tripartite talks on Kashmir

Defence Minister George Fernandes has categorically ruled out any tripartite talks involving Pakistan, but said the government is ready for talks with Kashmiri militants without any preconditions.

"It is not the question of willingness. As far as the Kashmiri people are concerned we should always talk to them whenever they want," Fernandes said when asked whether the government was ready of talks on Kashmir after talks with the Hizbul Mujahideen failed.

In an interview to Doordarshan's news channel, to be telecast on Sunday, he made it clear that bilateral talks with Pakistan could be held only after Islamabad stopped aiding and abetting cross border terrorism.

Fernandes said he believed the Hizb favoured a dialogue. "Hizb has been involved with terrorist activities for the last 10-12 years. Many of their people have been killed.''

He denied that there were any differences in the government regarding the talks. It felt that the Kashmir problem could be solved only through dialogue.

UNI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report