Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/11/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDIA / PAK SUMMIT (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-278107

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has said the disputed region of Kashmir should be the main focus of his summit meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Sunday. But as V-O-A's Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, India says it will hold a broad-based dialogue that will include other issues such as trade and confidence-building measures.

TEXT: Just days before the Indian and Pakistani leaders sit down for talks, the two nations are spelling out a different agenda.

General Musharraf will come to New Delhi with a 19-member delegation in which

the only minister is foreign minister, Abdul Sattar. Contrary to expectations in New Delhi, Pakistan's commerce and interior ministers have not been included. Analysts see this as a strong signal that the Pakistani leader wants his discussions with Mr. Vajpayee to focus solely on Kashmir.

But Indian foreign ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said (Wednesday) that India

will hold a comprehensive discussion with General Musharraf that will include others issues besides Kashmir.

/// RAO ACTUALITY ///

Our discussions with Pakistan would be based on the framework of the composite dialogue which includes the issues which you have mentioned, trade and economic cooperation is one of the items in the composite dialogue. So we are looking at a broad, comprehensive framework for the dialogue with Pakistan -- one that addresses outstanding issues, and one that sets the tone for future directions in the relationship.

/// END ACTUALITY ///

Prime Minister Vajpayee recently told leaders of political parties in New Delhi that a range of issues such as trade, cross-border terrorism, and confidence-building measures will be on the agenda.

India says more people-to-people contacts and enhanced trade links will help reduce tensions between the two countries. Pakistan says the dispute over Kashmir must be solved first because it is the main source of tension.

Meanwhile in a discordant note, members of India's ruling governing National Democratic Alliance say they will boycott a reception being held at the Pakistani embassy for General Musharraf because Kashmiri separatist leaders have been invited to meet him -- despite Indian objections. India had opposed such a meeting, saying the separatists have no role in settling what New Delhi says is a bilateral dispute.

The meeting between the two leaders will break more than two years of hostile silence since intense border fighting broke out two years ago in the Kargil mountains of Kashmir.

India and Pakistan both claim all of Kashmir, and have fought two wars over

the disputed region. (Signed)

NEB/AP/JWH