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Journalism of Courage
ISLAMABAD, FEB 28: Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif has threatened to suspend talks with India if the Kashmir issue is not resolved within a specific time-frame.
8220;There could come a time when talks have to be suspended in case no concrete development is made towards solution of the Kashmir issue,8221; Sharif, under fire from opposition and fundamentalists for his summit with Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, said. Sharif dismissed criticism of his summit with Vajpayee saying his government had not compromised interests of Kashmiris and aspirations of Pakistanis.
8220;Kashmiris have the moral, diplomatic and political support of Pakistan8230;,8221; Sharif told the function held in memory of the founder of Nation and Nawa-e-Waqt papers Hameed Nizami.
He said he had told the Indian leader that Kashmiris should be given the right of self-determination so that they can decide their future8217; and warned that, Pakistan may have to look for some other options if ongoing negotiations bore no fruits in aspecific time-frame8217;. 8220;There is no possibility on agreeing on any other solution except one that is acceptable to the people of Kashmir,8221; Sharif said, days after both sides agreed to settle all outstanding issues, including Kashmir, peacefully.
8220;Nobody should think that I would compromise on Kashmir. People know that and they trust me,8221; Sharif said claiming that even Vajpayee had agreed with Pakistan8217;s standpoint . 8220;When I stated during the talks that the Kashmiris should decide on their right to self-determination, Vajpayee replied 8220;it is right,8221; Sharif said at the gathering organised by the group known for its hawkish views vis-a-vis India.
PM firm on territory
NEW DELHI: PRIME Minister Vajpayee today asserted that India was determined not to lose its territory any further and said both India and Pakistan will have to make efforts to ensure that the agreements signed between the two countries in Lahore recently lasts. quot;We have not attacked any country in our 50 years of Independence,but we have been attacked several times and have lost our land. We are determined not to lose our land in future,quot; Vajpayee said.
