Q. "Kashmir’s accesion to India is complete, final and irrevocable"—this was a statement made by one of your illustrious predecessors at the United Nations. Is there any change in that position?

Ans. No, there is no change. I have just said that the accession of Kashmir has never been questioned. The question of accession of Kashmir has not been questioned even in the U.N. Other aspects of the question of J&K have been questioned. But never the accession. So how is the question of accession suddenly a question? It is not a question.

Q. What then is the discussion with Pakistan on Kashmir? If J&K is an integral part of India, if it is a part of the constitution, then what is it that you will discuss?

Ans. Well, I cannot reveal or divulge what the President of Pakistan wishes to discuss about Kashmir. He has said that he wishes to discuss the state of J&K with India. We have earlier discussed it. As far as India, cross border terrorism is very much a part of the situation in J&K.

Q. Mr. Minister, when Prime Minister Vajpayee had extended the invitation to General Musharraf there was a lot of optimism in the air. But what we have seen and heard in the last two weeks, do you think the optimism was misplaced or do you still expect any progress from the Agra Summit?

Ans.Well, I am not at all pessimistic. I don’t see why you should be pessimistic. If you are suggesting pessism because I am meeting you, please dispel yourself of that illusion. I’ll certainly attend to my responsibilities positively and most
optimistically.

Q. Mr. Minister, what is the minimum you are expecting out of the summit and what would be the maximum?

Ans. Well, I am only one of the instruments. It is really the two heads of government that will determine both minimum and the maximum. But as one of the instruments I too believe that if the atmosphere and the climate between the two countries is improved, if we are able to proceed further down the line of path of peace and amity and learn to live together as neighbours, it would be a good achievement.

Q. Mr. Minister, the proxy war and the low intensity war have been going on for quite some time. Would you like to monitor this type of war through an international organisation or it will be solved bilaterally?

Ans. No, there is no need for any international organisation. If you would like to throw your memory back e.g. between 1947-67 India and Pakistan experimented with multilateralism and international intervention etc. And we only reached 67.
And thereafter, Simla Accord in 1972, and both agreed that we ‘ll address our issues bilaterally and I do believe that the Simla agreement proved its worth because between 72 and 99 we were able to address each other’s concern bilaterally. Besides I believe any attempt to introduce any kind of multilateralism or any other third element brings with it its own agenda which in our subcontinent always results in further complicating and destabilising rather than solving.