Even if Jaffna falls, we won't go in: Vajpayee

Even if Jaffna falls, we won't go in: Vajpayee
JYOTI MALHOTRA

NEW DELHI, MAY 11: Norwegian peacemaker Eric Solheim arrived in the Capital today from Oslo to sound out the Government on a possible solution to the Sri Lankan crisis, even as Prime Minister A B Vajpayee told reporters in Parliament that India would not intervene militarily on behalf of Colombo, even if Jaffna falls.

Meanwhile, an official spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here said there was no dichotomy between the Government's offer of mediation in the crisis in Sri Lanka -- implying a dialogue with the LTTE -- and the fact that the LTTE was a banned organisation in India.

Analysts pointed out that the Government had negotiated with the Taliban, for example, during the hijacking though it doesn't recognise the Afghan group.

Solheim's visit to India, at a time when the crisis in Sri Lanka is deepening by the hour, is also significant since he was in Washington last week to discuss a possible solution. His presence in New Delhi indicates that the US is backing the Norwegian initiative. Solheim told a private TV channel that ``we believe that the US is supporting the peace process and we advised the US to work very closely with India on finding solutions.''

And even though Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh told Parliament last week that the Norwegian initiative is not a ``workable solution'', the Government is also in touch with the US and key European nations on this matter.

Solheim was not so pessimistic. ``India was very positive about Norway playing a role,'' he told the TV channel, adding that there could be no solution to the crisis without India also playing a positive role.

The MEA spokesman, however, indicated that there was still no convergence of views between India and Norway's efforts so far. ``What Mr Solheim is engaged in is entirely a Norwegian effort,'' he said. ``We wish them well,'' and the ``Sri Lankan government is aware of our position.''

The Norwegian MP met Jaswant Singh and Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh today and briefed them on Oslo's views. ``We exchanged views about the evolving situation,'' the spokesman said.

``(He) shared India's approach that the solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka lies with the Sri Lankans themselves in a manner by which all communities can realise their aspirations within the context of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of he country,'' the spokesman added.