Indo-British ties on even keel: Jaswant

Following his brief meeting with Blair, Singh had a more substantive meeting with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. A variety of issues were raised, including India’s nuclear stance and the new developments in Indo-Pak relations. Cook welcomed the positive signs from India and Pakistan, including the PM’s decision to take the first bus journey to Lahore and Nawaz Sharif’s plan to attend the cricket match in Delhi. Cook also told Singh that Kashmir remained anarea of concern in India and Pakistan’s relationship and it would be beneficial if both countries addressed themselves to this issue.

At a press conference this afternoon, Singh said that his visit was another step towards Britain and India consolidating and further developing their relationship as two modern and outward looking countries. Asked whether he had any indication that the British government had changed its stance on sanctions against India and support for multi-lateral loans, he said that the issue was not raised specifically but "we considered the aspects in a such larger framework … the emphasis is on the creation of a proper environment".

He added that beyond this, it was up to the UK government to reassess the situation. Singh was asked whether the granting of a visa to Salman Rushdie had anything to do with his presence in Britain. He said that it had not, but he had examined the visa application because of the "possibility of some attendant controversy" should Rushdie go to India. Healso accepted that Rushdie’s security while in India was the responsibility of the Indian government and that "all adequate security will be provided".

Asked to comment on reports that the Shahi Imam Bukhari had said that there would be widespread demonstrations if Rushdie visited India and that the Government of India would be responsible for any threat to his life, Singh said, "I don’t think there is the sort of animosity that you perceive here." Asked if his government could provide a guarantee against attacks by the Shiv Sena, which was less than pleased with Rushdie’s more recent novel The Moor’s Last Sigh, which they caricatured party supremo Bal Thackery. Singh said that this was "aberrant behaviour" against which a government could do nothing. He added, "you are asking for guarantees … how can a government guarantee anything."