Clinton delivered a tougher message

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, MARCH 27. As part of the new transparency in its relations with India, the United States has briefed the Government on the talks the American President, Mr. Bill Clinton, held with the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Mr. Karl Inderfurth, returned to New Delhi after Mr. Clinton delivered his tough message to Pakistan during his brief stopover there Saturday. On Sunday, Mr. Inderfurth called on Mr. Brajesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, to recapitulate the comeuppance that Mr. Clinton delivered to Gen. Musharraf.

Mr. Inderfurth had a more extensive session with the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Lalit Mansingh, and senior officials in the Ministry of External Affairs. It is understood here that Mr. Clinton was much harder in the official talks than he was in the address to the people of Pakistan.

While India is pleased with the unambiguous and consistent message that was conveyed by Mr. Clinton to Gen. Musharraf, there is no great expectation that Pakistan will quickly fall in line and end its cross-border terrorism.

In response to the U.S. demands to end violence, Gen. Musharraf has apparently insisted that the steps towards that goal have to be ``reciprocal''. But the U.S. is believed to have told Gen. Musharraf that after the Kargil aggression, it is up to Pakistan to make the first move in restoring trust between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The assessment of both the Government and the Clinton administration is that it will be a while before the Pakistani establishment begins to digest the bitter medicine administered by Mr. Clinton.

Neither side expects any formal announcements from Islamabad that it is ready to abjure its use of force across the Line of Control. But if Gen. Musharraf does indeed move seriously in that direction, New Delhi and Washington would want to assess the hard evidence on the ground. India and the U.S. are likely to discuss further steps only after coming to a judgment in the coming weeks on the course Islamabad has chosen to adopt.

Meanwhile, India and the U.S. have agreed to negotiate a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), that will facilitate bilateral cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of crimes, including terrorism. Announcing the decision, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said the treaty, which is likely to be concluded this year, will buttress the Indo-U.S. Extradition Treaty that came into force in July 1999.

Indo-U.S. cooperation in the battle against terrorism and other crimes will also be enhanced by the recent Indian decision to allow the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to open an office in the U.S. Embassy here. Indian investigating agencies have had their offices in the U.S. for many years.

PTI reports:

Mr. Brajesh Mishra tonight said India asking Mr. Clinton to prod Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism did not amount to third- party mediation. ``It does not amount to mediation and there is no question of mediation,'' Mr. Mishra told Aaj Tak when asked to comment on the Prime Minister asking Mr. Clinton to tell Pakistan to stop terrorism.

``When foreign dignitaries come and tell us to exercise restrain and resume dialogue with Pakistan, we tell them why should you tell us to do that. We had exercised restraint in Kargil... You should go and tell them (Pakistan) to show restraint.''

India, Mr. Mishra said, made it clear that it was not willing to resume dialogue as long as cross-border terrorism continued.

Asked whether India expected any tangible result out of Mr. Clinton's tough talking to Pakistan on terrorism, he said ``we hope so. But on the basis of reports so far, Pakistan has not given any assurance to Mr. Clinton to that effect.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Next     : 5 Oscars for 'American Beauty'