Vajpayee, Musharraf Break Ice, Cold Vibes Continue

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has got down to business. He had his first phone conversation with Pakistan chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf today.

They agreed that political rhetoric on both sides should be toned down in the interest of a better atmosphere for the upcoming summit meeting. Harsh statements always have their repercussions on political forces in both countries, the two leaders agreed.

While the Indian side emphasised that this was the view of both leaders, the Associated Press of Pakistan had a different construction on the conversation.

The wire agency said the Pakistan chief executive told the Indian Prime Minister to tone down the rhetoric in his statements. This observation, the agency said, was made by Musharraf with reference to Vajpayee