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February 3, 1998

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BJP promises to keep Pakistan in check

E-Mail this story to a friend The Bharatiya Janata Party will take active steps to persuade Pakistan to abandon its present policy of hostile interference in India's internal affairs by its support to terrorist organisations.

In its election manifesto which party president Lal Kishinchand Advani released in New Delhi today, the BJP affirmed unequivocally India's sovereignty over the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, including the areas under foreign occupation.

The manifesto also says the party would support a united Sri Lanka within which the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people could be fully accommodated. The BJP 'greatly regrets' the continuing bloodshed, particularly as the Indians have a long-standing traditional and fraternal ties with the Lankans.


The manifesto pledges to place the relations with the United States on a 'more even keel based on mutual respect, shared values and congruence of interests'.

"We expect the United States to be more sensitive to India's security and economic interests," it says.

The BJP promised to 'further develop the long and traditional relationship' with Russia by increasing co-operation in trade, technology, defence and other security related areas.

"India and Russia have many common interests in Asia, and we will strive for greater co-operation to serve them," the manifesto says.

The BJP also declared that it would strengthen political and economic relations with European and Association for South East Asian Nation countries, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Iran, the Arab nations, Israel, central Asian republics and fellow Commonwealth nations.

It also promised to have 'greater interaction' with more African nations and to build ties with India's traditional friends like Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The BJP reaffirmed its commitment to peace and prosperity among all countries, and to an enhanced role for India in world affairs as befits a 'great and ancient civilisation'.

UNI

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