Musharaf blames Advani for failure of Agra Summit

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has blamed then Home Minister L K Advani for the failure of his summit with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in July 2001.

"I personally suspect it was Advani sahib. That is my guess because he was quite hawkish in those days," he said in an inteview to Mr A G Norrani in Frontline magazine.

The Pakistani leader said he had told Mr Vajpayee that he would only enhance his popularity if the proposed joint declaration was signed between India and Pakistan.

Gen Musharraf said Agra was a great opportunity for the two countries. "I would say it was a pity that we lost so much time.

Agra was a great opportunity: it was the greatest opportunity. We could have made wonderful breakthroughs. I really don't know why we failed." He said he still could not make out what was the pressure on Mr Vajpayee for backing out on what had been decided by the two leaders.

UNI AT BD2032