18th July 2001


India's reaction to the Agra summit

Opposition leaders aren’t sparing the government any embarrassment. Senior members of the Congress Party called the summit a lost opportunity - and said the level of expectation created before the meetings had been unrealistic.

One called on the government to explain in parliament what went wrong. In Indian Kashmir, which had been a divisive issue at the talks, there was widespread disappointment. Many said they feared an increase in violence as a result.

sparing the government any embarrassment - avoiding saying anything that will make the government feel ashamed

summit - meeting between leaders of different countries to discuss important issues

lost opportunity - a missed occasion for doing something positive

level of expectation - the degree of hope that something would be achieved

called on - appealed

divisive issue - a cause of hostility

One separatist leader accused the Indian government of being intransigent. He praised General Musharraf for taking what he described as a principled stand in representing Kashmir and called on the two countries to accept the help of a third party to resolve the dispute. This is a move the Indian government has consistently resisted.

Two militant groups in Indian Kashmir have said the collapse of the summit justifies their position that change will come only through violence and not through political dialogue.

separatist leader - leader of a group of people who want to establish their own separate government instead of being ruled by the existing government of the country

intransigent - having ideas which cannot be changed by other people

principled stand - behaviour based on the moral principles that guide the way people act

third party - someone who is not one of the two main people or groups involved in a discussion

dispute - disagreement