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Rediff.com  » News » PM rejects Musharraf's cricket diplomacy offer

PM rejects Musharraf's cricket diplomacy offer

By Onkar Singh in New Delhi
January 08, 2006 17:40 IST
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reportedly rejected Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's offer to visit the country for one of the cricket games.

Musharraf is believed to have made the offer in a yet-to-be telecast interview to CNN-IBN channel.

The Prime Minister's Office, however, refused to comment on the matter.

"I have no idea," a senior PMO official told rediff.com on Sunday afternoon.

India has also rejected Musharraf statement that if India withdrew its forces from Srinagar, Baramullah and Kupwara, he would do everything within his power to ensure that there was no terrorist activity in these towns.

"Movement of troops or their redeployment essentially has to be a decision of the Government of India. Such decisions are based on our assessment of the security situation prevailing in any part of the country. As long as the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and in other parts of the country is adversely affected by the phenomenon of cross border terrorism and violence perpetrated by the Pakistan-based terrorist groups, the government will fulfill its responsibility to safeguard lives and security of its citizens," External Affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna told newsmen.

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Onkar Singh in New Delhi