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US encourages India, Pakistan

Aziz Haniffa
India Abroad Correspondent in Washington

The United States on Tuesday in an apparent effort to ensure that the breakdown of the summit between India and Pakistan does not end in another lengthy lapse of dialogue between the two countries issued yet another strong statement of encouragement urging both countries to stay on course toward peace.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, in a statement released by his office said, "The serious and constructive atmosphere of the talks indicates that both sides are committed to resolving their differences."

However, the statement acknowledged that "This will be a difficult and lengthy process. While India and Pakistan did not reach an agreement on a final joint statement, it is important to keep this meeting in perspective."

It pointed out that "the two sides were grappling with very difficult issues that had divided them for over 50 years."

"Prime Minister Vajpayee's agreement to visit Islamabad for further discussions is a positive step," the statement added.

The statement also noted that the willingness of Foreign Minister Sattar and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh to meet at a future date.

Boucher recalled in his statement that "as I said yesterday, we strongly support sustained engagement at a senior level between India and Pakistan. This is the best way to address long-standing bilateral disputes and make real progress toward a reduction of tensions and peaceful resolution of their differences."

Senior Administration officials acknowledged in interviews, that Boucher's statement was indeed an effort to keep the pressure on India and Pakistan to continue the dialogue and also to deflect the naysayers on both sides.

One official said, "We have all these people who are running around saying it is a failure. We don't think it is."

Another official acknowledged that Vajpayee's acceptance of Musharraf's invitation to visit Pakistan was indeed a saving grace and the only silver lining among the dark clouds that ended the two days of talks.

"That certainly in a major indication that the talks were not a failure," the official said.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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