PM briefs CPI(M) leaders on foreign policy

New Delhi, Jan 6 (UNI) Ahead of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's crucial visit to Pakistan next week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today briefed CPI(M) on India's ties with neighbouring countries, with particular emphasis on its relations with Islamabad.

Dr Singh's luncheon meeting with the Left leaders today came four days after he undertook a similar exercise by inviting BJP leaders for discussions on foreign policy.

Dr Singh was assisted by Mr Mukherjee, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, Mr T K A Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shanker Menon.

The Left leaders, who attended the meeting, included CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury.

At the hour-long meeting, Dr Singh said Nepal required India's support for establishing a democratic set-up, assuring that New Delhi would do its best in the endeavour.

The PM briefed the Left leaders on the government's ''assessment'' of developments taking place in South Asia and its policy and approach towards them.

The PM began the excercise by talking to top BJP leaders -- Mr A B Vajpayee, Mr L K Advani and Mr Jaswant Singh -- on January 2 and it was also reported that the excercise was in response to the BJP oft repeated allegation that the government did not take the main oppostion party into confidence on foreing affairs matters. Mr Advani even went to the extent of appreacitng the PM's gesture.

Mr Yechury, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Rajya sabha MP, said the PM briefed them on the government's preprations on the eve of the SAARC summit here in April.

Mr Mukherjee is scheduled to visit Pakistan and other SAARC countries next week.

Mr Yechury said they impressed upon the PM that India was in the process should strengthen friendly relations with the neibouring countries for the greater cause of peace, stablity and prosperity in the region.

On the Bangladesh crisis following the opposition decision to bycott the January 22 elections there, he said, '' We hope that a secular and democratic government will be in place there.'' On the relations with Paklistan, the CPI(M) leaders impressed upon Dr Singh that India should continue the peace process and composite dialogue.

''But at the same time, India must be vigilant and should not lower its guard as some kind of settlement can take place one way or the other,'' Mr Yechury said.

On Sri Lanka, the Left parties maintained that the prevalance of peace was all the more needed for holding a meaningful SAARC summit.

UNI