May 29th 2002
By Amit Baruah
In a possible sign that tensions may be cooling somewhat between India and Pakistan, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, will be in Singapore from May 31 to June 3 to attend a security conference.
Informed sources said today that he had confirmed his attendance for what has been billed the ``Shangri-La Dialogue'', where some Asia-Pacific Defence Ministers are scheduled to interact with their North American counterparts as well as top strategic analysts.
The very fact that an active Defence Minister like Mr. Fernandes has chosen to travel out of the country for the Asia-Pacific security conference organised by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) is an indicator that the worst phase of tensions with Pakistan has passed, observers say.
Apart from attending the conference, Mr. Fernandes will be a guest of the Singapore Government on June 3.
On June 2, accompanied by officials, he will address the closed-door ``Shangri-La Dialogue'' on ``Perspectives on the Organisation of Asia's Security'' as part of a panel.
