Letter from Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for General Pervez Musharraf, Chief Executive of Pakistan, inviting him and  to visit India

May 25, 2001

Excellency,

India has, through dialogue, consistently endeavoured to build a relationship of durable peace, stability and cooperative friendship with Pakistan. Our common enemy is poverty. For the welfare of our peoples, there is no other recourse but a pursuit of the path of reconciliation, of engaging in productive dialogue and by building trust and confidence. I invite you to walk this high road with us.

When I visited Lahore in February 1999, with the objective of beginning a new chapter in our bilateral relations, I had recorded at the Minar-e-Pakistan that a ‘stable secure and prosperous Pakistan is in India’s interest’, that remains our conviction.

We have to pick up the threads again, including renewing the Composite Dialogue, so that we can put in place a stable structure of cooperation and address all outstanding issues, including J&K.

I have the pleasure to extend a most cordial invitation to Begum Musharraf and you to visit India at your early convenience.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

A. B. Vajpayee