Pak. sees role for U.S. in the event of war

WASHINGTON, MARCH 27. The Pakistani Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, believes that if there is a war over Kashmir, India will be forced to accept the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton's mediation, media reports quoting American officials have said.

The New York Times in its analysis of the South Asian situation said on Sunday, ``American officials believe he (Gen. Musharraf) figures that if the war at the top of the world gets splashed on enough front pages, India will be forced to accept what it has long rejected - outside mediation from Clinton.''

``The General may be proved wrong, but maybe not. With not much to do at home, Mr. Clinton is moving from hot spot to hot spot (West Asia and Ireland), arguing that all involved areas in America's strategic interest. The problem is that Mr. Clinton envisions himself as an umpire, while the rest of the world sees Washington as a player with its own agenda,'' the paper said.

``There is supicion in Beijing, for example, that America is using all its weapons - from the Seventh Fleet to its influence over the World Trade Organisation - to contain China's power. The Indians share a similar suspicion, even as they flocked to shake Mr. Clinton's hand.'' ``And so, for all the happy talk, the Indians had no intention of signing on to Mr. Clinton's non- proliferation agenda. After all, they said, the other great symbol of democracy - the U.S. Senate - rejected the comprehensive test ban treaty last year, proving that even the most powerful economy on earth wasn't willing to forgo its nuclear weapons.''

- PTI

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Section  : International
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