New Delhi, July 5
The USA has once again sent strong signals to Pakistan that it wants Islamabad to stop terrorist activities against India.
US President George W. Bush categorically told Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf during their recent meeting at Camp David that Islamabad must put a total stop to cross-border terrorism against India.
This was conveyed by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha in a telephonic conversation the two leaders had on July 3 evening when the latter was in Pretoria.
Well-placed sources in the Ministry of External Affairs here told The Tribune today that as soon as Mr Sinha arrived in South Africa on a bilateral visit he was conveyed a message that Mr Powell wanted to talk to him. Mr Sinha called up Mr Powell in the evening.
Diplomatic observers believe that the fact that Mr Powell has chosen to himself brief Mr Sinha on his President’s advice to General Musharraf on the issue of cross-border terrorism demonstrates yet again that Washington is well aware of Indian concerns and values its relationship with New Delhi, which is increasingly acquiring strategic dimensions.
They added that there was nothing to suggest that during his talks with President Bush, General Musharraf made any promises on two things which America expects from Islamabad: (i) recognition of Israel and (ii) Pakistani troops for a stabilisation force in Iraq.
An important highlight of Sinha-Powell telephonic conversation of July 3 was that Mr Powell expressed concern at the recent spurt in terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir and expressed condolences on killings in these recent attacks.
In this context, Mr Sinha, who returned home today, stressed the need for Pakistan to end cross-border infiltration.
From the American point of view, Mr Powell conveyed his country’s keenness for Indian troops for Iraq and hoped that India would take an early decision in this regard. Mr Sinha is understood to have told Mr Powell that the process of consultation was already on and the Vajpayee government would be taking an appropriate decision.
Mr Sinha pointed out to Mr Powell that Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal had visited the USA earlier this week and had detailed discussions with senior officials of the Bush administration on the issue of Indian troops for Iraq.
Mr Powell also briefed Mr Sinha on the West Asia peace process and Mr Sinha wished success to the American roadmap for peace in the region.
Interestingly, Pakistan figured in Mr Sinha’s talks with South African President Mbeki. Mr Mbeki, who is also President of African Union, said while African Union appreciated how democracy had gone from strength to strength in India in past half a century, the Union also noted the fact that Pakistan was unfortunately moving in the opposite direction.
