NEW DELHI: A top Pakistani leader Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi said the prime minister P V Narasimha Raos statement in the Lok Sabha Wednesday that the country should be prepared for any eventuality against Pakistan had created anxiety in the minds of those working for peaceful relations between the two countries

Talking to reporters here Thursday Jatoi said both India and Pakistan should sit together to allay each other’s apprehensions when asked about the Pakistani support to terrorist and secessionist elements in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir

As far as the Kashmir problem was concerned he said “unless we sit together we can’t find a solution to the problem” “let us be realistic” Jatoi stated.

He did not agree with a questioner that there was a tacit understanding between the two countries at the time of the signing of the Shimla agreement that the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir would be accepted as the international border.

Jatoi who called on MsSonia Gandhi Thursday sought her intervention to minimize tension between the two countries. According to Jatoi Sonia Gandhi said the relations between the two countries should improve. He said he had called on Ms.Gandhi to condole the death of Rajiv Gandhi.

Jatoi who had served as caretaker prime minister of Pakistan after the sacking of Ms.Benazir Bhutto last year said he was visiting India after a gap of 35 years.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 27, 1991