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Fernandes contradicts PM over proposal to Pak

Differences between Union Defence Minister George Fernandes and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the issue of verifying whether Pakistan has stopped infiltration came to the fore on Wednesday with Fernandes contradicting Vajpayee's offer to Pakistan for joint patrolling of the Line of Control.

Vajpayee at the Almaty conference had offered Pakistan the option of joint patrolling of the LoC to 'mutually verify' whether infiltration has stopped, as claimed by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

After his arrival in India, Vajpayee also said that Pakistan had expressed reservations on his proposal, which showed 'Islamabad's reluctance to allow verification of its claim about stoppage of infiltration'.

Fernandes at a press conference, in response to a question on Vajpayee's offer, said, "There is no such likelihood ever (joint patrolling)."

Asked why he thought there was no such likelihood, he said "We can patrol our borders on our own. We don't feel the need of anybody else for it."

When pointed out that prime minister himself had made the offer, Fernandes said, "He (Vajpayee) must have done it after giving due consideration and thought to it."

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