ELECTION 99
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Clinton To Push for Indo-Pak Bilateral Talks

A P Kamath in Washington

While the White House recently rejected the efforts of many Congressmen to have a special envoy named to mediate in the Kashmir issue, President Bill said yesterday that he would urge India and Pakistan to resume bilateral talks to resolve their differences.

"Encouraging the resumption of Indo-Pakistani bilateral discussions has my personal attention," Clinton noted in his October 5 letter to Congressman Gary L Ackerman, "and I intend to pursue this when I visit the region within the next year."

Ackerman (Democrat-NY), the co-chairman of the influential Congressional Caucus on India and Indians Americans, is a strong critic of Pakistan's covert and open support to the militants across the border in Kashmir. While warning that Pakistan should be declared a terrorist state if it does not get out of Indian territory, he has also been urging bilateral talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.

In the letter to Ackerman, who is also a leading member of the House International Relations Committee, Clinton added: "I was very pleased to see an easing of the fighting in Kashmir, but I remain extremely concerned about the continued confrontations between India and Pakistan."

"These clashes remind us of how important it is for India and Pakistan to resolve their bilateral problems and end over 50 years of enmity."

Clinton also wrote that he shared Ackerman's "views on the importance of strengthening our economic relations with India and have long believed that our two countries should enjoy broader and more productive relations."

While declaring that the potential gains for both United States and India are enormous, Clinton added: "My trip to the region will seek to promote a deepening of our ties with India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh."

He sounded upbeat over CTBT.

"I believe we can pursue such a goal as we seek India's (and Pakistan's) co-operation in the non-proliferation realm," he continued.

"We will avidly seek Indian and Pakistani adherence to the CTBT and the other benchmarks agreed to by the world community after the May 1998 nuclear tests. An arms race in the region serves no one's interest and will severely limit the potential for economic growth and development."

Previous: Godse Play Stirs Up A Storm In New York

Next: SAARC To Keep Out of Indo-Pak Conflict: Kadirgamar

Tell us what you think of this report