Sattar to meet Talbott today

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, JUNE 14. After a gap of 16 months the United States and Pakistan are set to begin talks on nuclear and security issues. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdus Sattar, arrives here today for a meeting with senior officials of the Clinton Administration.

Mr. Sattar would meet the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Strobe Talbott, on Thursday and the focus of the talks would be on security and non proliferation issues. ``It remains the subject of great importance and interest to the United States,'' the deputy spokesman of the State Department, Mr. Philip Reeker, said.

Mr. Sattar would also meet the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr. Thomas Pickering. The discussion is expected to cover restoration of democracy in Pakistan, the Kashmir issue and Afghanistan. The State Department is of the view that the talks is a continuation of what Mr. Pickering had with the Pakistani officials recently. No meeting has been scheduled for Mr. Sattar with the Secretary of State, Ms. Madeleine Albright.

The focus of the Clinton administration on security and nuclear issues aside, Washington has been rather very keen on addressing terrorism with Islamabad especially as it pertains to Afghanistan vis-a-vis Osama bin Laden. The administration has also come under pressure from Capitol Hill to turn up the heat on Pakistan over terrorism, including what is taking place in Kashmir.

The argument of Pakistan that groups operating in Kashmir and indulging in violence are not ``terrorist'' organisations and do not have takers in the country.

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Section  : International
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