Old timers still remember how, in November 2000, Atal declared a unilateral cease fire against Islamic militants in Kashmir in a prelude to peace talks. This cease fire was extended and Pervez Musharraf was invited to talks. Atal took such measures in the face of tough opposition even by a section of his party men. They argued that Pakistan could not be trusted because of its track record of starting the Kargil war just after the Lahore declaration a year earlier. However, Atal was unconvinced by these arguments.
