Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/17/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-278316

TITLE= INDIA / PAKISTAN / SUMMIT / S

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= AGRA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: India's foreign minister says the lack of an agreement at the

Agra summit does not mean relations between India and Pakistan are worse

than they were before the summit. V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports the summit

ended in a stalemate late Monday after the two country's leaders could

not agree on a joint declaration because of differences over Kashmir.

Text: Jaswant Singh -- who is both India's foreign and defense minister -- says there were three stumbling blocks on Kashmir which prevented agreement at the summit.

Mr. Singh says Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee would not

agree Kashmir is the "core issue' between the two countries. India could

not get agreement on an end to what India calls "cross border terrorism

in Kashmir." And, Mr. Vajpayee could not convince Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, to use previous agreements on Kashmir between the two counties

as a framework for future talks. Despite the failure of the talks Mr.

Singh says India is committed to a peace process with Pakistan.

// SINGH ACTUALITY //

The caravan of peace will continue on its march and I have no doubt in

my mind that on some auspicious day it will reach its destination.

// END ACTUALITY //

Pakistani officials say both leaders approved a draft declaration but

Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee could not get political approval from his cabinet for provisions on Kashmir. Mr. Singh says such claims are false. (Signed)

neb/jlt/wd