Nation & States 

India, Pakistan announce 

nuclear moratorium

What is India News Service, 21 June 2004, 1630 hrs

India and Pakistan announced a slew of never-before decisions to prevent misunderstandings and reduce the risk of a nuclear war.

They vowed to observe a moratorium on nuclear tests, unless national sovereignty compulsions dictated otherwise. The peace process took a giant leap forward as the big rivals of South Asia concluded their first-ever talks on nuclear confidence building measures (CBMs) and issued a joint statement. Foreign secretaries of the two countries met in Delhi.

India and Pakistan have decided (i) to establish a "dedicated and secure" hotline between their foreign secretaries, (ii) to upgrade the existing hotline between their directors-general of military operations (DGMOs) and (iii) to work towards reaching an agreement on pre-notification of flight testing of missiles. 

Meanwhile, defence minister Pranab Mukherjee said India did not want an arms race with Pakistan but would pursue the policy of nuclear-war preparedness. 

Mr Mukherjee said India would not immediately go in for Agni-3 missile test as an answer to Pakistan's recent missile tests. The test would be conducted as and when necessary. He said he did not propose immediate withdrawal of troops from the Pakistan or China borders, though India's relations with both countries were now friendly.

He criticised his predecessor, George Fernandes, for branding China as the country's "enemy number one". He reiterated that India's arms purchase and other defence deals with the USA and Israel would continue.

In China meanwhile, India's external affairs minister K Natwar Singh held talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing and exchanged views on a series of issues, including Indo-China relations.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 22-member Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) at this booming coastal East Chinese city. Beijing has vowed to further Sino-India relations.

On the domestic front, Narendra Modi got a reprieve, and will stay on as Gujarat chief minister. After a marathon four-hour meeting of the BJP parliamentary board in Mumbai, the party president, Venkaiah Naidu announced Modi would continue for now.

The People's War, responsible for anti-state rebel violence, said Sunday it was ready for peace talks. A fax message sent to some dailies by the spokesman of the south area committee for Jharkhand-Bihar-Bengal reportedly laid down conditions for the talks. 

Union power minister P M Sayeed said his mission was to spread the light in rural India. Over 57 per cent of the country is still in darkness, he said, and has declared his determination to bring electricity to the villages. He feels the move by the Andhra Pradesh government to give free power to farmers is justified as it is an investment to help the farmer, which in turn will translate into rural prosperity.

Overall:

Peace talks took a leap forward: India and Pakistan decided to set up a nuclear hotline, and announced a moratorium on nuclear tests.

Foreign minister reached Beijing: Natwar Singh met his Chinese counterpart and said the two countries would work towards coming closer.

Modi got a reprieve: The BJP said it would not remove the controversial Gujarat chief minister for now.

People's War said it would talk: The rebel group sent a message that it was willing to meet the Jharkhand government across the table.