The Hindu : 'Indo-Pak. situation still dangerous'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 29, 2002

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'Indo-Pak. situation still dangerous'

NEW DELHI JUNE 28. The United States views the current India-Pakistan situation as ``still dangerous'' and said it would be cautious in relaxing travel warnings since the elements that threatened to escalate into a war ``are still in place''.

``The tensions have certainly eased in the last few weeks...but the situation still remains dangerous,'' the U.S. Ambassador, Robert Blackwill, told Star News.

The U.S. had been worried about the possibility ofan India-Pakistan war in mid-June.

``Even though the crisis has subsided to some degree, the structural elements that caused it are still in place.''

These include mobilisation of the two armies on the borders, India making it clear that it would maintain its forces until after October elections in Jammu and Kashmir, New Delhi still being concerned about infiltration, which has gone down significantly, and the rhetoric remaining at a high level on both sides, Mr. Blackwill said.

Advocating a ``step-by-step'' process towards defusing tensions, he said: ``we would like India and Pakistan to get back into a dialogue on a variety of issues, including Kashmir, as soon as possible.

But a decision on this is up to the Indian Government.''— PTI

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