The Hindu : 'Pak. has indicated it is acting on curbing terrorism'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 02, 2002

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'Pak. has indicated it is acting on curbing terrorism'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON JUNE 1. The United States has said that it has indications of "instructions'' by Pakistan on ceasing cross-border terrorism, but that India can be asked to de-escalate only if terrorism across the Line of Control in Kashmir ceases permanently.

"I have seen indications that instructions have been given to cease this kind of activity. I think it is still too early to say that it has stopped. And when, and if, it does stop, it must also stop permanently. It can't be something where you turn a tap on or off; we will stop it for a while and get out of this problem, and then we'll turn it on again,'' the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, said in an interview to BBC News. "I think what we are expecting President Musharraf to do is to use all of the authority he has to stop it, and keep it stopped, so that we can get this crisis behind us,'' Gen. Powell said.

If cross-border terrorism indeed stopped, that would be a basis to tell New Delhi to take de-escalatory steps. It was also be important for India to detect it. "Now if it becomes obvious that he (Gen. Musharraf) has done that and we can actually detect this, and more importantly the Indians can see that it's stopped, then we have a basis for saying to the Indian side: Okay look, that's been stopped. We have assurances that it will be on a permanent basis. Now we are very hopeful and expect you to take de-escalatory steps...,'' Gen. Powell said.

Washington was disappointed with the manner in which the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, had dealt with this critical issue, especially in not following through with some of the initial steps to shut down terrorist activity across the LoC. "We were disappointed in the spring that some initial steps that we thought were being taken to shut down activity across the LoC did not continue and we did not see the kind of cessation that we were expecting based on what President Musharraf said in his January 12 speech. That is why we are now pressing Gen. Musharraf... very intensely to essentially do what he said he was going to do,'' Gen. Powell remarked.

The U.S. expected Gen Musharraf to make good his word and the assurances. "But I can't go anywhere with that assurance. The only time I can go somewhere and make a case with the Indian side or to the world is when we see the action taking place."

While leaning heavily on Gen. Musharraf to deliver on his promises, the Bush administration, however, was not having a specific time-frame in mind. Asked how long the Pakistani leader had to deliver, Gen. Powell said "I can't answer that question... what we are concerned about is that the Indians might find that they have to attack. I don't know what their timeline is. There are weather considerations — there are a lot of other considerations.''

Gen. Powell reiterated what the U.S. President, George Bush, said two days ago — a war between India and Pakistan served neither of their interests. "If the Indians attacked, it's unlikely that they would be able to take care of the problem that they are attacking against on a permanent basis. It would, of course, draw a response from Pakistan. That is very destabilising for the whole region. It would affect U.S. interests in that region and our war against terrorism, against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban...

``But more significantly, both sides are nuclear armed. I think both sides recognise that the most horrific thing that could happen in the year 2002 is for the second time in history, a nuclear exchange to take place."

* * *

Pak. `instruction' to check infiltration

The U.S. has "indications of instructions'' by Pakistan to check infiltration across the LoC, but is stressing that it would have to be permanent, according to the State Department Spokesman, Richard Boucher.

... We have indications of instructions, that instructions have been given that would help with stopping the infiltrations. It's still too early to say that it has stopped... And also it's too early to say that when it stops, that will be permanent. So at this point we're watching the situation very closely'', he said during the briefing on Friday.

Mr. Boucher also pointed out that the Bush administration, in a variety of ways, has tried to make it very clear to both India and Pakistan that the consequences of even contemplating the use of nuclear weapons could be disastrous.'' Given the existing threats in the sub-continent, why could not the U.S. be a "mediator'' over Kashmir especially when mediation was amenable to the U.S. in West Asia, he was asked. Mr. Boucher said that Washington was trying to "facilitate'' the easing of tensions and whatever kind of dialogue India and Pakistan might be interested in having.

`` `Mediator' is a particularly defined role, not a general one; but in general terms we're in there, we're working with them, we're trying to help make progress,'' Mr. Boucher said adding that "our role... if any, depends on the parties... We would help in any way we could with the dialogue itself if they wanted us to''.

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