Pak flays Vajpayee8217;s comments on Sharif assassination attempt

Vajpayee while expressing relief that Sharif had survived an assassination attempt said in Bangalore earlier this week that Pakistan8217;s abetment to terrorism in India had recoiled.

The spokesman further said to have given a, 8220;self-serving and mischievous twist to as serious incident as the attempt on the prime minister8217;s life is unfortunate and in bad taste.8221;

The spokesman also said heads of states and government of a number of countries, particularly South-Asian neighbours have sent messages of support and sympathy to the Prime Minister onthe attempt on his life on January 3. Altaf also criticised Vajpayee8217;s statement that India would demand the return of PoK saying 8220;this is not the first time that Indian leaders have said this. This shows their negative attitude to the talks.8221;

To a query what would be Islamabad8217;s stand on the forthcoming round of talks in New Delhi, Altaf said 8220;we will focus substantively on the core dispute of Kashmir, a greater part of which is illegally occupied by India and where the Kashmiris are waging valiant struggle for the right of self-determination.8221;

Asked which part of Kashmir will come under discussion during the foreign secretary level talks, he said 8220;I don8217;t think there is any country in the world which is in doubt about the nature of the dispute and about the nature of the demand of the Kashmiris.8221;

Assessing the year 1998, the spokesman said the year was momentous. He described the year as 8220;the year of our destiny8221; following nuclear tests and, 8220;we are now a nuclear weapon state8221;.

8220;Eversince the creation of Pakistan our single most important pre-occupation was with safeguarding the security of the country, in the face of implacable Indian hostility and its hegemonistic ambitions,8221; Altaf said.