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Sharief trying to meet Clinton

Special Correspondent in Delhi

After sending former Pakistan foreign secretary Niaz Naik on a 'secret mission' to New Delhi to find a 'diplomatic solution' to the Kargil conflict, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief is trying to meet President Bill Clinton.

This was disclosed by Pakistan army Chief General Pervez Musharraf in Karachi soon after the departure of US Marine General Anthony Zinni and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gibson from Islamabad at the weekend, according to CNN.

Lanpher briefed New Delhi on Sunday about the talks he and the general had with the Pakistani leaders.

Sharief begins his four-day visit to China today amidst reports that a prominent Chinese daily has suggested that India and Pakistan should sign a ceasefire agreement.

It is not clear whether this is the official line of the Chinese government. Officially, Beijing has been maintaining that New Delhi and Islamabad should find a bilateral solution to the Kargil conflict.

In case Beijing takes the 'ceasefire agreement' line, it might come as a rude shock to New Delhi which was quite optimistic about better Sino-India ties after External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh's recent China visit.

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The Kargil Crisis

EXTERNAL LINK
As Kashmir fight continues, meeting reportedly sought with President Clinton

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