Working to defuse Indo-Pak crisis: Clinton

WASHINGTON, JAN. 28. The U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, has said that working to defuse the crisis between India and Pakistan was one of the ``fundamental challenges'' the United States must meet globally in the 21st century.

In his final State of the Union address last night, Mr. Clinton said ``America cannot prevent every conflict or stop every outrage. But where our interests are at stake and we can make a difference, we must be peacemakers.''

``We should be proud of America's role in bringing the Middle East closer than ever to a comprehensive peace; building peace in northern Ireland; working for peace in east Timor and Africa; promoting reconciliation between Greece and Turkey and in Cyprus; working to defuse crises between India and Pakistan, defending human rights and religious freedom,'' Mr. Clinton said, outlining the ``fundamental challenges'' ahead of the U.S. globally.

Justifying the use of force to defend human rights where America could make a difference, Mr. Clinton said, ``we should be proud of the men and women of our armed forces and those of our allies who stopped the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo- enabling a million innocent people to return to their homes.''

- PTI

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Section  : International
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