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"The initiative taken by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to invite Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf for talks is laudable. I, like all other Indians, look forward to a positive outcome," Padmanabhan told reporters in Madras.
The talks are expected to be on the basis of "give and take", he said after inaugurating a housing complex for the staff of the defence accounts department.
"Both sides are known to exhibit wisdom, which will stand them in good stead and lead to a positive outcome. It may not be immediate, but it would be over the years", he said.
On continued militant attacks despite the proposed talks, Padmanabhan said, "I don't think we should aggravate the situation by making any pronouncements."
"We should enter the talks with an open mind. After all, such attacks have been going on for years. We should still continue our efforts for peace," he added.
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