Author: K J M Varma in Islamabad
Publication: PTI
Date: June 23, 2003
The Indian Parliamentary delegation
visiting Pakistan on Monday said they were intrigued by the total lack
of response from the Pakistan government to their visit.
But they also said their visit was
a great success for promoting peace and people to people contacts.
"There is no doubt the response
is overwhelming. We have been treated with utmost respect, love and affection.
People have gone out of the way to extend the hand of friendship," delegation
leader Kuldip Nayyar said while interacting with the Indian media in Islamabad,
along with other members of the team.
"But there was no direct or indirect
message from government of Pakistan," he said. "We are not aware what is
their agenda is. Seven of us from different political parties came from
India and they have deliberately kept away."
The 'official silence' Nayyar said
is more confounding as Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhmood Kasuri,
whom he knows personally for long time, did not call up to greet him.
However, the delegation, which left
for Karachi from where they would return home, was happy that acting President
of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Sumroo hosted an official dinner. "But there
was no interaction."
Nayyar believes that the steady
silence from the Pakistan government was a tit for tat response to the
Indian government's treatment of Pakistan MP's delegation, which visited
India last month.
