The Hindu : U.S. can't act as mediator: Sibal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 09, 2002

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U.S. can't act as mediator: Sibal

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 8. The U.S. can help the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, implement his commitments to fight terrorism, but not act as mediator between India and Pakistan, the new Foreign Secretary, Kanwal Sibal, said today.

Mr. Sibal, who took over as Foreign Secretary on July 1, made it clear that India was not giving up bilateralism as a policy approach when it came to dealing with Pakistan. Speaking at a CII panel discussion on "India and USA: Blow hot, blow cold'', he said if for further results in fighting the international terrorism the U.S. presence was required in the region, then the Indian policy-makers will not object to it.

Mr. Sibal, whose recent changes in the External Affairs Ministry and statements reflect a new approach at the official level, said the U.S. should continue to pressure Gen. Musharraf to fight terrorism.

The Kargil episode was a watershed and perhaps there is now an understanding that the Line of Control is inviolable and sacrosanct, the Foreign Secretary said.

The U.S., he said, could not separate one segment of international terrorism, which addressed their security needs from the terrorism that affected India in Jammu & Kashmir.

By implication, Mr. Sibal conveyed that the the threat emanating from the Al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants were at par with Pakistan-based militants operating in Kashmir.

The Foreign Secretary made it clear that India would continue to lobby the international community, led by the United States, to ensure that Pakistan shunned terrorism.

Mr. Sibal said Gen. Musharraf's commitments to the international community on fighting terrorism could not be re-interpreted or watered down. .

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