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Advani rules out talks with Pak. `proxies'

JODHPUR DEC. 30. In an apparent reference to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today said the Government would not talk to Pakistan's ``proxies'' or those who reflected its voice.

``We are ready to talk to elected representatives and to others as well but not with those who only reflect Pakistan's voice and consider that country to be their master,'' he told reporters on board a special aircraft on way to Jodhpur.

Without naming the Hurriyat, Mr. Advani said the approach of some Kashmiri leaders that they want to go to Pakistan ``does not make any sense''. The international community also understood India's stand, he said.

Making it clear that there was no variation in New Delhi's stand, he said: ``We will not talk to Pakistan till they dismantle their terrorist infrastructure and stop cross-border terrorism.''

On Friday last, he had announced in Jammu that the Centre was prepared to talk to the elected representatives in Jammu and Kashmir and even with those who did not participate in the Assembly elections.

``When we say that the epicentre of terrorism has shifted from Afghanistan to Pakistan, it is not mere rhetoric. We have substantial evidence to show that."

Mr. Advani, who holds the Home portfolio, said the Western countries also understood India's position, though they had their own assessment. The West had every right, but India felt that it was making a mistake. However, ``we don't think they (Western countries) are going against us.''

The United States should realise that defeating global terrorism involved ending cross-border terrorism. The real issue was cross-border terrorism, not Jammu and Kashmir, he said. He said the Jammu and Kashmir Government should not release militants without consulting the Centre. Making it clear that India had not severed diplomatic relations with Pakistan, Mr. Advani said every issue was being weighed.

He said it was clear that Pakistan would like to pursue "anti-India" policies. It was unlikely to downsize its "anti-India" measures. He added that the militant-fundamentalist character of Pakistan must change if relations were to improve. — UNI, PTI

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