U.S. team emphasises the need for a `give and take'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 23. The U.S. Congressional team, which visited India and Pakistan in the last four days, is returning to Washington with the impression that the differences between the two countries on all issues, including Kashmir, are not irreconcilable.

A member of the delegation, Mr. Jim McDermott, told The Hindu at a reception organised in the team's honour by the U.S. Charge d' Affaires, Ms. Michele J. Sison, on Thursday, that the delegates found sincerity and determination at the highest level in India and Pakistan for resolution of all differences.

In its interaction with the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the delegation raised Indian concerns over the activities of the militant outfits operating from the Pakistani soil.

Gen. Musharraf told the delegation ``there are certain things that I could do and certain things I could not do.'' He gave the impression that the unrest in Kashmir was related to the ground situation and could improve only if India was prepared to take necessary steps.

At the same time, he was fully behind his Interior Minister, Gen. Moinuddin Haider, in his effort to rein in the religious and militant outfits.

Gen. Musharraf apparently asked the delegation to appreciate his ``own compulsions'' in taking drastic actions. The impression was he expected the international community and India to make his job easier on the domestic front.

As one member of the team put it ``we believe after our visit to India and Pakistan, there has to be a certain give and take if both the countries are serious in resolving their differences, particularly the Kashmir dispute.''

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