Contrary to some discordant voices on both sides of the border, India and Pakistan have come together and worked side by side in Gujarat to alleviate the sufferings of the earthquake tragedy. The rulers of Pakistan and India have both adopted a mature and statesman-like attitude to this calamity, and have consequently built trust between each other.
However small in consideration to the wider regional picture this achievement must be welcomed
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Vajpayee expresses gratitude to Pakistan
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE to Pakistan for extending relief to earthquake-hit Gujarat, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he would speak to military ruler Pervez Musharraf on telephone and apprise him of the situation in the state.
"I will speak to Musharraf on phone and inform him of the magnitude of the devastation," Vajpayee told reporters here after releasing a weekly Hindi and Urdu journal Secular Qayadat.
To a question if he would use the opportunity to discuss other issues with Musharraf, Vajpayee said "it is at the time of distress that people come together and share grief".
This will be the first ever contact between Vajpayee and Musharraf after the October 12, 1999 military coup in Pakistan.
Asked about the possibility of resumption of the stalled Indo-Pak dialogue, he said India has made it clear that the talks could start only after a conducive atmosphere was created in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have always favoured talks for which the right atmosphere has to be created. Violence, killings and terrorism must stop and the climate should be such that fruitful and meaningful parleys can take place," the Prime Minister said.
He termed as baseless media reports that New Delhi had refused aid from Islamabad for the quake victims saying "I am very happy that Pakistan is sending relief material. More relief is expected from that country".
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfra...1/dtLNAT21.asp
However small in consideration to the wider regional picture this achievement must be welcomed
---------
Vajpayee expresses gratitude to Pakistan
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE to Pakistan for extending relief to earthquake-hit Gujarat, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he would speak to military ruler Pervez Musharraf on telephone and apprise him of the situation in the state.
"I will speak to Musharraf on phone and inform him of the magnitude of the devastation," Vajpayee told reporters here after releasing a weekly Hindi and Urdu journal Secular Qayadat.
To a question if he would use the opportunity to discuss other issues with Musharraf, Vajpayee said "it is at the time of distress that people come together and share grief".
This will be the first ever contact between Vajpayee and Musharraf after the October 12, 1999 military coup in Pakistan.
Asked about the possibility of resumption of the stalled Indo-Pak dialogue, he said India has made it clear that the talks could start only after a conducive atmosphere was created in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have always favoured talks for which the right atmosphere has to be created. Violence, killings and terrorism must stop and the climate should be such that fruitful and meaningful parleys can take place," the Prime Minister said.
He termed as baseless media reports that New Delhi had refused aid from Islamabad for the quake victims saying "I am very happy that Pakistan is sending relief material. More relief is expected from that country".
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfra...1/dtLNAT21.asp
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