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No ceasefire with militants, clarifies Fernandes
November 26, 2003 16:28 IST
Defence Minister George Fernandes on Wedneday said there was no ceasefire with regard to terrorists and the truce along the Indo-Pak borders in Jammu and Kashmir could lead to a point where solutions could be found to outstanding issues.
"Looking at the run-up to the announcement made by Pakistan Prime Minister (Zafarullah Khan Jamali), responded to by India, and certain other developments, there is reason to believe that this could take us to a point where we may be able to find solutions to problems that have been plaguing us for a long time," Fernandes said.
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The terrorists, he said, would be dealt with by the security forces as before.Asked about Pakistan not being reliable in the past, Fernandes said, "In relations between nations there comes a time when one does find a need to come to terms and resolve whatever problems that exist.
"And therefore for the two neighbours like India Pakistan, when Prime Minister (Atal Bihari Vajapyee) made a third offer, despite whatever may have happened in the interregnum, the latest response by the Pakistan prime minister shows a lot of hope. Therefore, one should not take it lightly and dismiss it."