International

Indian defence team meets Armitage

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington May 20. A high-level delegation from India has had its first meeting with senior members of the Bush administration on, among other things , the serious situation in the sub-continent. Yogendra Narain, Defence Secretary, who is leading the delegation had the first meeting with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage. Mr. Armitage is due to visit South Asia, sometime in June, the details of which are being worked out. The speculation here and elsewhere is that he might advance his trip in view of the goings-on in the subcontinent.

Although defence cooperation between India and the U.S. was to have been the original focus of the routine meeting when it was being scheduled, the border situation between India and Pakistan and the apprehension of this getting out of hand have assumed significance here. Mr. Narain and the team will also meet the Deputy National Security Adviser, Stevan Radley.

The team is in the U. S. in conjunction with the Military Coordination Group, which met today.Tomorrow, the Defence Policy Group, known as the DPG will have its session. Mr. Narain is expected to call on the U.S. Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld.

Senior diplomats and officials from India have conveyed to the U.S. New Delhi's standpoint on the latest crisis with Pakistan. The Bush administration is using the opportunity of Mr. Narain's visit to put across its point of view.

And one of the things that Washington has been telling India publicly and in private, is that while the fears and anger of India are not misplaced, the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, will have to be given ``more'' time to complete his crackdown on extremists.

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