Ready to discuss even Kashmir: PM

Germany, the PM replied, was a member of the international community in the forefront of the fight against terrorism and raising its voice alongside India in doing so. Then he quietly pulled out an ace. When Musharraf comes here, the PM said, we want the German Chancellor to tell him to stop cross-border terrorism.

Answering the same question minutes later, Schroeder showed the stuff with which he had won his election by a one per cent cliff-hanger last year. There is an old Indian saying, he began, or if there isn’t one then I’m making it up right now. Which is, never reveal publicly what you’re going to tell your guest before you tell him about it.

To the sound of laughter, the Chancellor added that he was ready ‘‘any time and anywhere’’ to help resolve any issues, especially if they were made in the constructive spirit Vajpayee had just showed by once again offering peace talks with Pakistan.

Then a German journalist asked Vajpayee why India continued to refuse the Kashmiris the right to a referendum. The PM pointed out that in the recently held elections in Kashmir, in which ‘‘Pakistan tried hard not to allow people to vote, and even threatened them, people had come out in large numbers. The elections have decided what people want. There is no need for another decision,’’ Vajpayee added.

Meanwhile, in an interview to Der Speigel magazine on the eve of his visit here, the Prime Minister admitted that he would ‘‘retire’’ if his attempt to make peace with Pakistan for the third time did not bear fruit. He went on to add that when he had faced the people in Kashmir, it was clear to him that it was his ‘‘obligation’’ to take up the peace process again and ‘‘liberate’’ them from the ‘‘crisis state of violence and terrorism.’’

But even if Vajpayee’s visit to Germany — the first by an Indian prime minister in a decade — hasn’t set the Rhine on fire, it may have never been intended to. Berlin, followed by Munich tomorrow, is really the first stop on a 3-nation tour over the next week where the Prime Minister is expected to figure out a first-hand sense of the post-Iraq world order.

Coincidence or not, Vajpayee’s European sojourn takes him to Germany, Russia and France, all three countries that in varying degrees opposed the might of the US over its recent decision to invade Iraq.

But with Schroeder now keen on making up with America and Russia’s Putin expected to bargain hard with George Bush when they meet on Sunday at St Petersburg tercentenary celebrations, and even France keen to end trans-Atlantic spat it led with such aplomb some weeks ago, the Indian delegation may well be positioned to get a good grip of international realpolitik.

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha insisted to journalists today that there was ‘‘complete understanding’’ between Germany and India on a variety of issues, from the Middle East peace process to the sources and opposition to international terrorism which hurt both countries as well as the ‘‘assessment of the situation in Iraq.’’

Berlin and New Delhi clearly see eye to eye on the fact that the UN must be given a much larger role to play in Iraq, although the UNSC resolution 1483 was a ‘‘step forward,’’ Sinha said. Significantly, Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be maintained, both sides felt.

But Indian sources also admitted that Berlin may not want to once again ‘‘take a lead role’’ in being critical of the US, even if they disagreed with Washington’s accusations that Iran was supporting the Al-Qaeda. By the time the week is out, New Delhi believes, some of the muddied waters would be clear again.