December 21, 2001

KATHMANDU: Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will attend the SAARC summit in Kathmandu from January 4 to 6 but will not talk with Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf at a retreat.

“The question of talking to Pakistan given its attitude and unresponsiveness in taking action against terrorist groups operating from its soil against India really does not  arise,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said in New Delhi Thursday. She confirmed Vajpayee will be attending the Kathmandu summit to discuss regional issues.

There was speculation earlier that India might skip the delayed summit following last week’s terror attacks at the Indian parliament for which New Delhi blames Pakistan based terrorist organizations. Pakistan has asked India to provide proof while condemning the attack.

New Delhi’s move is seen as a gesture to Nepal which is keen to host the summit after India scuttled the 1999 meet following a military take-over in Pakistan.