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PM keeping J&K cease-fire options open

The scheduled May 19 Srinagar visit of Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh to review the situation in Jammu and Kashmir before the expiry of the cease-fire deadline on May 31 has underscored the Vajpayee government's dilemma on the issue, top government sources pointed out.

"Advani is not in favour of extending the cease-fire because of continuing terrorist acts in J&K and elsewhere in the country. He wants Vajpayee to call off the cease-fire. However, the prime minister does not wish to take a hurried decision on the matter. That is why he has asked Jaswant Singh to accompany Advani," contended a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office.

Singh, who is keen to enhance India's image as a peace-loving country, will give his own assessment of the situation.

Referring to the proposed visit, a senior ministry of home affairs official said, "One is regarded as a hardliner (on Kashmir) and the other is the prime minister's representative. The prime minister probably wants both views before deciding whether to extend the cease-fire again."

Both officials refused to comment on the recent luncheon meeting between the prime minister and the home minister at the latter's residence.

Media reports has speculated that Advani was upset with the prime minister's repeated extension of the cease-fire in J&K.

"Nobody except the prime minister and the home minister were at the luncheon and so whatever appeared in the media can only be conjecture at best," the PMO official pointed out.

He, however, was not willing to completely rule out differences between Vajpayee and Advani on J&K.

The Kashmir Cease-Fire: The Complete Coverage

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