Vajpayee's Opening Remarks at Indo-Pak Summit,July 15, 2001  

I extend you and your delegation a warm welcome to this ancient and historic city of Agra. I hope that your stay here will be comfortable and that our deliberations will take our relations forward positively and constructively.

Through the past five decades, India has held firm in its abiding desire for peace and friendship with Pakistan. We remain committed to the establishment of trust and confidence to developing mutually beneficial cooperation and to addressing all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. We believe that the core concern of our people is their struggle against poverty, want, hunger and deprivation.

We have always taken a comprehensive view of India-Pakistan relations because it is our conviction that we must progress where we can, even as we address the more complex issues. We believe that, rather than operating in segments, we should take a broad based approach across the spectrum of possibilities in our relationship.

It is with these perspectives that we announced a few decisions in advance to your visit, aimed at addressing some of the mutual concerns of our peoples. These relate to peace and security, to the development of people to people ties, and to promote contacts by facilitating travel.

We have already had a frank discussions on important matters, we look forward to a further detailed exchange of views on all issues including that of Jammu and Kashmir. You are fully aware of our views on the subject and we have heard yours. We cannot deny that there are vast differences between us on this.

I wish to refer to certain additional specific measures:

We have consistently for over two decades urged Pakistan to release the 54 Indian PoWs that we strongly believe remain in your custody. This is a human problem. I would urge that Pakistan takes urgent and purposeful action to end the agony of the families of the soldiers.

We know that some terrorists and criminals, guilty of crimes like the bomb blasts in Mumbai in 1993 and the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight, are living in Pakistan. We have requested Pakistan that they should be arrested and handed over to us. They have to be brought to justice.

We have recently issued instructions to our Coast Guards not to take into custody Pakistani fisherman, who inadvertently stray into our waters, but to turn them back after due warning. A similar reciprocal gesture on Pakistan's part would lead to a permanent resolution of this recurring problem.

Pilgrims to religious shrines in both countries have to be facilitated and their sentiments respected. The presence of known terrorists who have been allowed to stay in Sikh gurudwaras in Pakistan is a matter of grave concern to our Sikhs. We have formally requested your authorities that these terrorists be handed over to us to face due process of law in connection with crimes for which they are wanted in India. I wish to specifically reiterate this request to you. While on the subject of religious shrine, the upkeep of Hindu temples and the treatment of Hindu pilgrims is also a matter of concern to us.

The enhancement of trade ties would be mutually beneficial, we seek no unilateral advantage. Trade and industry circles have constantly urged both governments to respond to the desire for greater interaction. We are willing to take further major steps in this direction. We have already announced a reduction or elimination of tariffs on 50 tariff lines to encourage Pakistani imports to India. I propose that a group of experts of both countries be constituted to recommend measures to increase bilateral trade, economic and technical interaction.

Our vision for the future of India-Pakistan relations has to construct a durable road map for the future based firmly on the lessons of its often troubled history. We should respond not only to our immediate need for peace and progress for our peoples but also to an international environment that increasingly stresses inter-dependence and cooperation over conflict and discord. Let us grasp this opportunity to create the lasting peace and amity which has eluded us for past 54 years.