The Failed Agra Summit: How a Kashmiri-Origin Bureaucrat Thwarted Musharraf’s Plans

(Kashmir Rechords Desk)

Twenty-three years ago, on July 16, 2001, as Pakistan and India neared the signing of a potentially historic document favoring Pakistan on Kashmir matters, a bureaucrat of Kashmiri Pandit ancestry intervened, thwarting General Pervez Musharraf’s efforts to persuade Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to sign a joint declaration against New Delhi’s interests.

A “Hidden Hand’’

Despite three unsuccessful attempts to draft the joint declaration, this Kashmiri Pandit bureaucrat ensured that India’s interests were safeguarded, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Agra Summit and leaving Musharraf disappointed. Nine years later, Musharraf himself revealed that Indian External Affairs Ministry official Vivek Katju was the “Hidden Hand” responsible for scuttling the summit. According to Musharraf, Katju, then serving in the Ministry of External Affairs, insisted on referencing the Shimla Agreement of 1972, preventing the summit from recognizing Kashmir as a key issue.

Musharraf lamented that had Katju not influenced Prime Minister Vajpayee, the Agra Summit could have concluded in favour of Pakistani interests. In his autobiography “In the Line of Fire,” Musharraf criticized Katju’s negotiating style and demeanor, accusing him of adopting a hardline stance detrimental to the peace process.

Vivek Katju Profile

Vivek Katju, born in 1949, is a retired Indian diplomat who served with distinction in the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), holding various crucial positions both domestically and abroad. His tenure included ambassadorial roles in Afghanistan and Myanmar, where he significantly shaped India’s bilateral relations.

Musharraf’s criticism of Katju highlights the challenges inherent in high-stakes diplomatic negotiations, particularly when dealing with entrenched historical and political issues. Despite differing viewpoints, Katju’s role was pivotal in representing India’s interests and navigating the complexities of Indo-Pak relations.