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The Salman Khurshid Chat

Imtiaz Ahmed: I would encourage Mr Gujral to follow his doctrine to its logical conclusion. We are too big to worry about little problems posed by our neighbours. Our destiny is reached out for greater international leadership.

Thank you for your compliment. I wouldn't be caught dead in a Brit university. But, honestly, was Benazir the problem? Historically, the initiative for peace has always come from the Right, from a hardliner (Menachem Begin, for instance). Nawaz Sharief is well positioned to take the initiative while BB could not have considering that there is such a lot of suspicion about her credentials. Why did the 1994 talks fail? You were privy to what happened, so please tell us!

Samrana Khan: Peace comes with give and take. We should not think of what we are giving only. I do not believe that any compromise without fundamental beliefs or national security would be involved.

Simon King: No real difference except that foreign policy often gets its efficacy from domestic stability. We were lucky to have had the latter to support the former. Mr Deve Gowda is pursuing politics in a more difficult climate. I wish him well.

Your personal secularism is known to those who know you. When and how do you think religion will stop becoming an electoral factor and what steps do you think YOU are taking in this matter???

Would you consider Gujral a better foreign minister than any foreign minister in recent times? Do you think his doctrine will work? Non-partisan response please.

Mr.Khurshid, what is your comments on Farooq Abdullah's plan on recognising the LOC in Kashmir as International boundary?

Attee mogvaa: A border less world is inevitable in the future. But borders are often drawn in the mind and have to be erased there in. However, there are certain security issues that need to be sorted out on both sides.

The present Indian government of Deve Gowda is said to be politically instable. Don't you think it will affect the country's foreign policy too?

The Pakis won't give up Kashmir. We won't give it up either. So there's stalemate. How do we break this impasse?

MR KHURSHID, DO EXPECT THE PROPOSED MEETING AT THE SECRETARY LEVEL BETWEEN PAK AND INDIA WILL START NEW ERA AND WILL SOLVE THE KASHMIR ISSUE ?

Has everyone gone to sleep?

Atte Mogvaa: I am convinced that there is an overwhelming majority of secular people in India. We only have to network ourselves effectively and not let a small minority by pass us. .

Will our children be able to live in a peaceful India in the 21st century? Can the present set of Indian politcians solve the Kashmir problem?

Salman, how are you old chap? How's Louise? Have you grabbed control of the Jamia Millia?

When is the last time you interacted with Pakistanis? What is their mindset like? or are you considered with suspicion as a sarkari Musalman?

Bring the Indo-Pak wall down. Security considerations will sort themselves out. All Pakistanis logged in please petition your MNAs and we chase our MPs here. Kashmir? Enough to share is what most of us feel....

When is the last time you interacted with Pakistanis? What is their mindset like? or are you considered with suspicion as a sarkari Musalman?

Somanath: Farooq Abdullah is a pillar of strength to Indian democracy. I respect his desperate search for answers to the conflict with Pakistan. But the formulation perhaps is inadvisible.

Imtiaz: He is a good foreign minister. But he still has hopefully a long way to go. I would wish to judge his tenure when he completes it. Meanwhile, my best wishes. He needs a good minister of state.

Somanath: NO, WE ARE JUST WAKING UP.

Why? Because it is politically inadvisable? We are not going to wage a war for PoK, so why not seek a solution around the possibility of making the LoC the international border? Why are you acting like the BJP?

Gentlemen at REDIFF : One of your more sensible chat visitors. Not just the views but also the response speed. Pity he's a politician, though.....

Ras Bihari Bose: No, I am just waiting for you to relinquish your control.

Do you think the US is still supporting Pakistan?

Mr.Khurshid: What do you you make of Yeltsin's problems with Clinton over NATO and the effect of the latest while the PM has been in Moscow? Is it again going to be India/Russia and US/Pak grouped?

Are you in the running for MoS?

Ganesh Swaminathan: I am convinced, we will give peace to our children. As a democrat you must decide who is best qualified to deliver that peace.

Mogvaa? How come you are so kind with Salman? Did he buy one of your used cars? Or did he fight one of your cases?

MACHAN wants to know, shall they send coffee to help you wake up since the stuff at MAURYA is, you know... What time do you get there after this, BTW, we shall be there too (surprise guests from here in tow...only coffee....??)w...

Good evening Mr Khurshid, a friend of mine was commissioned in the army at 22 He was sent to Siachin and in a year was asked to leave the service..he had lost seven of his fingers. He was luck he didn't die like his friend who remained buried in the snow. There are so many rueful incidents like this in that glacier, do you see a solution to this. When will the troops retreat from there?

Mr salman, Why India has never raised the question of pakistan's continued aid to the terrorists in Kashmir, on any of the International forums? Why always pakistan puts pressure on us through International Forums?

Photograph: Atul Chowdhary