Search the Internet          Tips

Decision on ceasefire after
Advani-Singh visit, says Swami

The Cabinet Committee on Security will meet after the day-long visit of Advani and Singh, to attend a meeting of the Unified Command of security forces in J&K and review the ground situation there, Swami told reporters.

The minister said the ceasefire should be extended if the peace process initiated by the government has to be taken to its logical conclusion.

"The Centre has already appointed its interlocutor K C Pant to hold a dialogue with various groups in Kashmir. Some of these groups have responded positively to the offer of talks. Therefore, the ceasefire should be extended to carry the peace process forward," he said.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had announced in February the third extension of the ceasefire till May-end.

Swami categorically said that there was no question of making Pakistan a party to any tripartite parleys as demanded by the Hurriyat Conference, saying that Islamabad's support to cross-border terrorism and its offer of dialogue could not go hand-in-hand.

"You cannot hold talks when guns are booming. Pakistan cannot continue to extend moral, diplomatic and political support to terrorism while seeking a dialogue with India," he said.

PTI

The Kashmir Cease-Fire: The Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report