Hopeful and wary, Govt says we are looking at LoC

Hopeful and wary, Govt says we are looking at LoC
SONIA TRIKHA

DENPASAR (BALI), JANUARY 12: National Security Advisor and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Brajesh Mishra today said the Government is reviewing the situation on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) to proceed further on the issue of Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters here today, Mishra said: ``I think we can truthfully say that we are reviewing the situation on the LoC and how to proceed further''. He clarified that the review was ``not in terms of withdrawal; (but) the infiltration and violence''.

Reacting to a report in a section of the Pak press that Musharraf was expected to visit India, Mishra said: ``No invitation has been issued to General Musharraf to come to Delhi so far as I'm aware of and I should be aware of various things. There is no consideration at the moment of any summit-level meeting.'' But he did not rule out a summit at a future date.

On the issue of passports for the Hurriyat delegation to go to Pakistan, Mishra said a decision would be taken after the Prime Minister's return to New Delhi on January 14.

Earlier, Vajpayee was quoted from Jakarta by a news agency as saying that he has seen newsreports about the invitation but ``no date has been fixed as yet. When asked if that meant Musharraf would visit India, Vajpayee said: ``Even that is not final. It's a question that should be directed at him (Musharraf).''

Mishra said the attack on the Red Fort and the threat to attack the PMO andother important venues have ``given us cause to think''. He said it was strange that Musharraf saying that the attack on Red Fort is an `internal matter' when the claim for the attack was made from Pakistan.

He reiterated Vajpayee's comments in Parliament that a conducive atmosphere was necessary for dialogue.

Mishra ruled out withdrawal of troops but said: ``We are reviewing the situation on our side of the Line of Control for infiltration and terrorism because the number of attacks on civilians has gone up'' in the past weeks of suspension of Indian military operations.

The speculation on Musharraf's visit was fueled by reports in the PakistanObserver that Indian ambassador in Islamabad Vinay Nambiar had sought ameeting with General Musharraf on December 2 for delivering an invitationfrom the Indian Government. The Ambassador has denied that he received any brief from New Delhi and said that he was seeking a mere courtesy call. Ambassador Nambiar is yet to meet the General.