'U.S. not playing role of match-maker'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, AUG. 25. While the United States would welcome and may even be pushing for a summit meeting between the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and the Pakistan military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, in New York, the official response of the Clinton administration is that it is not playing the role of a ``match- maker''.

``We are not behind the scenes trying to instigate Vajpayee and Musharraf to meet in New York,'' an unnamed senior State Department official has been quoted in The Washington Times. ``This is not something we could propose, even though we would support it. It must be at the initiative of the parties themselves,'' he said.

He told the paper that there had been some positive signs in the troubled region, including a brief ceasefire between Indian troops and Pakistan-backed insurgent group, the Hizbul Mujahideen. But at the same time, it was pointed out that a resumed dialogue between India and Pakistan was only one of the four `Rs' that the U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, had called for during his visit to the region in March - the other three being respect for the Line of Control, rejecting violence and mutual restraint.

The official noted that India's new prominence in the eyes of the U.S. would be demonstrated during Mr. Vajpayee's official visit to Washington starting September 13 when he will arrive from San Francisco.

Mr. Vajpayee will address Congress; will have talks with Mr. Clinton; will attend a lunch hosted by the U.S. Vice-President, Mr. Albert Gore; and then a state banquet on September 17 after which he leaves for India. Indian officials here have ruled out a meeting between Mr. Vajpayee and Gen. Musharraf in New York while the leaders are there for the Millennium Summit starting September 6. Mr. Clinton will address the opening plenary and will have a number of bilateral meetings during his stay. There is no planned meeting between Mr. Clinton and Gen. Musharraf, at the most a handshake, it is said.

Clinton not to meet Musharraf

WASHINGTON, AUG. 25. The U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, has no plans to meet Pakistan's military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, during the U.N. Millennium Summit in New York early next month, officials said. There is also no chance of any meeting between Mr. A.B. Vajpayee and Gen. Musharraf on the occasion, they added.

- PTI

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