Indo-Pakistan leaders fail to agree - summit at stalemate

Talks between the leaders of India and Pakistan were deadlocked tonight when both sides failed to reach an agreement on a joint declaration over the disputed Himalayan province of Kashmir.

Indian government spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said that Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf was meeting one last time with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in an attempt to reach an agreement.

‘‘It is only after the meeting between Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee that we’ll get a sense of direction of the outcome,’’ she said.

But Pakistani information secretary Anwar Mahmood said there was a ‘‘very serious stalemate.’’

He said Musharraf was going to make a farewell call on Vajpayee and then go home.

Another Pakistani official close to the delegation said the talks had failed and accused the Indians of backtracking on earlier agreements.

Musharraf has insisted throughout the three-day summit that Pakistan and India must resolve their dispute over Kashmir, where Muslim guerrillas are fighting for independence, before South Asia’s nuclear-armed adversaries can improve relations.

But Musharraf also said he was willing to consider other issues plaguing the two foes ‘‘in tandem’’ with the five decade Kashmir conflict, which has caused two wars between them.

Officials would not say what issue had delayed the final declaration of the first summit between the countries in two years. But it was assumed to be the wording over Kashmir.

The final declaration also was expected to discuss security, terrorism and narcotics, Pakistani sources said on condition of anonymity.

Before beginning his second day of formal talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Agrai today, Musharraf, 57, surprised journalists with a long statement on Kashmir and dreams of better ties with India.

‘‘The public should be told that the main issue between Pakistan and India is Kashmir,’’ Musharraf told a select group of senior editors from the Indian media.

‘‘I have never said that I would not talk on other issues. All I have said is that Kashmir is the main issue ... and I will carry on saying it because this is what we have killed each other for.’’

The Himalayan province is the flashpoint of more than five decades of enmity between the neighbours.

‘‘You are fully aware of our views on this subject and we have heard yours,’’

Vajpayee said at the summit. ‘‘We cannot deny that there are vast differences between us on this. We are willing to address these differences and to move forward. But for this, it is important to create a conducive atmosphere.’’

‘‘Terrorism and violence’’ by Pakistani-backed Muslim militants had not helped, Vajpayee said. ‘‘Let no one think that India does not have the resolve, strength or stamina to continue resisting terrorism and violence.’’

India accuses Pakistan of arming and aiding Islamic militants who have fought since 1989 for an independent Kashmir or a merger with Muslim Pakistan. Islamabad says it gives only moral support. As many as 60,000 people have died.

‘‘We are not encouraging violence in Kashmir,’’ Musharraf told reporters. ‘‘This is an indigenous freedom struggle going on.’’

By all indications the first full day of talks between the leaders on Sunday was positive.

Vajpayee called for improved bilateral trade, made demands that Pakistan hand over terrorists suspected of killing Indian religious pilgrims and hijacking an Indian Airlines flight. He also asked that Pakistan release 54 Indian prisoners of war in its custody.

Pakistan denies holding any Indian PoWs, but Musharraf told the editors that he would ‘‘personally look into it.’’

He said that as a soldier he understood the pain of parents who had lost sons to war. But he added that India was focusing too much on peripheral issues instead of the real problem: Kashmir.

He questioned whether India’s demand for confidence-building measures on Kashmir were possible when the two sides were ‘‘shooting across the border, killing each other.’’

As he spoke, the violence in Kashmir continued to take its toll. Thirty people were killed in confrontations between soldiers and Islamic militants on Monday, taking the number of those killed during the three-day summit to 86. The rebels oppose the summit.

Still, Musharraf appeared hopeful that the stage had been set to curb the violence and continued dialogue.

He said instead of searching for a quick solution, the leader should concentrate on building a framework for peace.

A highlight of the summit was to continue the dialogue. Vajpayee agreed to visit Pakistan, but did not say when he would go.

Both leaders must appease hard-liners at home, and neither can appear to give away too much. Vajpayee heads up a powerful Hindu nationalist party that is part of his governing coalition, while Musharraf needs the backing of the Pakistan army to retain power.

Since Muslim Pakistan was carved out of Hindu-majority India following independence from Britain, both have claimed the entire Jammu-Kashmir region.

A cease-fire line from the 1971 war divides it between them, with two-thirds in India and the remainder under Pakistan’s control.

Vajpayee, blaming Musharraf for an 11 week conflict in the icy climes of the Kargil region of Kashmir, which cost hundreds of lives in 1999, had sworn never to speak to him.

Musharraf refused to answer when asked if he was the ‘‘architect of the Kargil’’ conflict. ‘‘There have been hurts and pains on both sides. Let’s forget the past and move forward,’’ he said.

India has accepted that Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and recently declared himself president, is there to stay for the near future.

And the 76-year-old Vajpayee likely wants to become the first Indian leader to promote peace with Pakistan.

When India and Pakistan conducted underground nuclear tests in 1998, they provoked worldwide condemnation and US sanctions. Both impoverished nations are eager to show they are improving security in the region to get the sanctions lifted.