No redrawing of borders: Narayanan

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

On Board Air India One, Jan 13 (UNI) National Security Adviser (NSA) M K Narayanan today said that India was willing to make any compromises, short of redrawing the borders, to improve its relations with Pakistan.

Mr Narayanan pointed out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had made it amply clear to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at their meetings in the past that there could be no redrawing of borders and that borders must become irrelevant. "That is India's position," he underlined.

The NSA was talking to journalists accompanying Dr Singh on his way to Cebu in central Philippines for the 5th India-ASEAN Summit and the 2nd East Asia Summit over the next two days.

He made it clear that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Islamabad was not "substantive" in nature because he had basically gone there to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to attend the 14th SAARC Summit to be held in New Delhi on April 3-4.

"You can't solve problems that have bedevilled our relations for years in two hours," he said in response to queries about Mr Mukherjee's talks with Pakistani leaders today.

Asked if the climate for talks was good, he said, "The climate is good or bad depending on the atmosphere of the moment. I think the atmosphere is good." On Siachen, Mr Narayanan said he saw no reason why Pakistan should not accept India's proposal for authentication of the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL).

According to him, accepting the proposal would not amount to a "climb down" by Pakistan. "I don't see why there should be a problem," he said.

The NSA declined to be drawn into any discussions on the efforts being made through "back channels" to solve the problems in the relationship, except to say that they provided opportunities to explore a variety of ideas and present them in a form acceptable to both sides when official talks are held.

He said both sides had moved forward on the Sir Creek issue.

"There is a survey going on, and both sides are willing to abide by the results of the survey," he added.

Asked if there had been any response from Pakistan to the Prime Minister's proposal for a Treaty of Peace, Security and Friendship, Mr Narayanan said he was not aware of any.

In reply to another question, he felt there could be a joint consultative mechanism between the two countries for such issues as tourism and culture.

UNI

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