NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, P.V Narasumha Rao said Saturday that India Pakistan could sort out their difference without mediation.

Talking to newspersons on his trust here after attending the Commonwealth Heads of government Meeting (CHOGM) in Harare, Rao said he was confident that the two countries would be able to remove all the irritants bilaterally.

When it was suggested that some friendly countries could mediate between India and Pakistan, Rao said these parties were politely told that such mediation was not necessary.

Rao had detailed discussions with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, in Harare.

Rao said all outstanding issues between the two countries were discussed in his meeting with Sharif. It was clear after the meeting that “we can sit together…we will sit together and that is what our meeting was all about,” he observed.

As no decisions were taken at the Harare meeting, Rao said he and Sharif had decided they should not say anything to the press.

He said it was a kind of “get acquainted” meeting to understand each other’s thinking. “We will be m touch and contrive the dialogue”.

The Prime Minister said he spoke to Sharif about several issues, including the kidnappings and Pakistan’s assistance to militants in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. He felt there was a desire on the part of Islamabad to ease tensions. “Let us wait and see”, he said.

Asked if India would sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Rao said India would not be guided by any condones in this regard. Moreover, New Delhi viewed the NPT as discriminatory.

He recalled his reply to a Pakistani journalist in Harare and said India would not be guided by Pakistan in signing the NPT. “India will take its own stand,” he said.

Replying to another question, Rao said his talks with the British Prime Minister, John Major, helped forge a better understanding between the two countries. On mutant activities, the British govt had been assisting India from time to time, he said

PEACE CONFERENCE: On establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, the Prime Minister said India would first await the outcome of the forthcoming West Asian peace conference scheduled for October 30.

“We have been asking for the West Asian peace conference for a long time, to settle the Arab Israel dispute”, Rao explained.

Referring to the Soviet Union” decision to restore diploma be: with Israel, Rao maintained that “we will examine the stand to be taken” at the conference before taking a final decision. New Delhi would like to know the agenda and those participating in the conference.

It may be recalled that the US secretary of state, James Baker, and the Soviet Foreign minister, Boris Pankin, said Friday in Jerusalem that invitations for the conference had been sent to Israel, Arab states and the Palestinians.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 25, 1991