India, Pakistan in 'Cordial' Talks

ByABC News
July 15, 2001, 8:35 PM

A G R A, India, July 15 -- Despite more cross-border firing by theirsoldiers in Kashmir, the leaders of bitter rivals India andPakistan pursued peace and nuclear security during their firstformal talks in more than two years. They also agreed to meet againsoon.

With the white marble domes of the Taj Mahal a symbolic backdropto their landmark summit, Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharrafand Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee met for talks todaythat appeared to have gone better than anyone had expected.

But even as they discussed peace, their forces exchanged gunfireacross the disputed Kashmir border for a second straight day, thefirst such flare-up this year. Fighting on the ground betweenIndian forces and Islamic separatists who oppose the summit left 20people dead, officials said, raising the weekend toll to 49.

One highlight of the leaders' meeting was the decision to keeptalking. Vajpayee accepted an invitation from Musharraf to visitIslamabad, officials said. They also agreed to meet on thesidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September.

"This reflects the mood from both sides to resolve theissues," said Pakistan's information secretary, Anwar Mahmood.

Talks Over Soups and Kebabs

Though they had planned only on some 20 minutes of privatetalks, the leaders met for nearly two hours of one-on-onediscussions at the Jaypee Palace hotel in Agra, 180 kilometers (110miles) southeast of the Indian capital.

They talked through a working lunch of soups, kebabs and Indiandishes, and again for several hours before a performance of Indianclassical music and a dinner banquet. Delegates and Cabinetministers sat in on some of the sessions.

Musharraf also took a break to visit the Taj Mahal with hiswife, Sehba. Erected by Muslim Moguls who once ruled most of thesubcontinent, the Taj is symbolic of the common history shared byPakistan and India.

"A number of issues were thrashed out. These included the issueof nuclear risk reduction," said Sushma Swaraj, India'sinformation minister. She said the two touched on trade,cross-border terrorism and Indian war prisoners. Kashmir hasignited two of their three wars, the last in 1971. Pakistan deniesholding any Indian war prisoners.