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Josy Joseph in Kathmandu
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday denied Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf's claim that the two leaders discussed the ongoing tension between the two countries during their stay in Kathmandu.
However, Vajpayee left a lot of unanswered questions about his meeting with President Pervez Musharaf in Kathmandu, by saying just that the meeting between the two leaders was a mere courtesy call by Musharraf.
The prime minister said nothing substantial was discussed with Musharraf.
The prime minister also did not say anything about the meeting between the foreign ministers of two countries.
Vajpayee told reporters that Musharraf's meeting with him was a mere courtesy call by the later.
He added that SAARC was not a venue for bilateral discussions. He did not say anything about the possibility of an immediate bilateral dialogue.
Musharraf had said that he hoped the contact in Kathmandu between the two, which he a 'breakthrough', would lead to immediate resumption of bilateral negotiations.
Not withstanding prime minister's assertions of 'nothing substantial' being discussed with the Pakistan president, there was enough indication that the two sides had discussed the present tension.
During the concluding session of the SAARC on Sunday morning, Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra had repeated consultations before and after the summit.
After the summit, when the seven heads of states were leaving the venue after posing for photographs, Sattar was seen discussing point-by-point something from a paper with Mishra.
Noticeably, Vajpayee and Musharraf shook hands while leaving the stage.
During the opening session, Vajpayee had walked off without shaking hands.
On Sunday, after the summit ended Sattar went back to his foreign secretary and other officials to discuss the paper that he had earlier discussed with Mishra.
The Pakistani foreign minister returned once again to Mishra, who then took the paper from him, with a clear hand wave indicating that he was taking it to the prime minister.
When reporters asked about this exchange, Pakistan president laughed it off asking Sattar if he was exchanging any couplets with Mishra.
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