Pak demand shot down

While India is not setting any preconditions for the resumption of talks with Pakistan, Singh made it clear that a dialogue was possible only when Pakistan stopped its policy of aiding and abetting terrorism.

Singh also hinted that he would not be averse to a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at New York on the sidelines of the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly session.

Questioned specifically on whether he would meet Sharif and his Pakistanicounterpart Sartaj Aziz in New York, Singh told a press conference that 8220;if the occasion arises, of course we will meet8221;, ending speculation about a formal meeting between Indian and Pakistani leaders after the Kargil conflict.

But the Minister pointed out that 8220;reasonable and meaningful8221; talks between the two countries would hinge on 8220;an essential ingredient8221;: Pakistan ceasing to assist and promote terrorism.

8220;It is important for Pakistan to realise that it has to stop encouraging cross-border terrorism8221;, Singh stressed.

Relations with China, meanwhile, were progressing on an even keel following Singh8217;s visit to Beijing in June. Announcing the resumption of the India-China talks, Singh said a joint experts8217; group would be meeting in October to discuss issues related to the Line of Actual Control.

The press conference was part of a series of interactions that the Bharatiya Janata Party has been holding with the media to highlight the achievements of each ministry during the Bharatiya JanataParty8217;s one-year tenure.

8220;India8217;s voice is now treated as the voice of a great power8221;, a statement issued by the party proclaimed, detailing the government8217;s handling of national security and foreign policy issues in the last one year.

According to the Minister, the achievements of the Vajpayee Government in international relations had so enhanced the country8217;s standing justifying its claims for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.

Referring to India8217;s standing in the international community in the post-Pokharan phase and subsequently during the Kargil conflict, Singh said the Vajpayee Government had tackled the situation with 8220;admirable deftness8221;.

8220;India8217;s voice is now heard with much greater respect: India8217;s views are treated with seriousness: India8217;s voice is now treated as the voice of a great power8221;, he declared.

But hadn8217;t the shooting down of the Pakistani naval combat aircraft diluted some of the international goodwill that India had gained from its maturehandling of Kargil? Singh8217;s reply was that India8217;s position in the international community was not determined by a single episode.

Reacting to a barrage of questions on the the draft nuclear doctrine, Singh asserted that the decision to release the draft reflected the openness and transparency that should accompany any public debate on something as vital as the country8217;s nuclear policy.

As a responsible nuclear weapon state, India should have a clearly stated nuclear doctrine, he said. As for the timing, 8220;In a democracy, there is no better time than elections for issues to be debated so that there a wider public discussion is generated8221;, he said.

Detailing the broad thrust of India8217;s nuclear programme, which the Minister described as neither country-specific nor threat-specific, he said the programme had enhanced the country8217;s strategic space and its strategic autonomy.

Singh also dwelt at length on the Government8217;s new pro-active policy on Afghanistan since events in that country affected India8217;snational interest profoundly.