Blair coming for talks today

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, OCT. 4. As preparations for the attacks against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan gain momentum, the British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, is coming here for consultations tomorrow. He will arrive here after a four-hour working visit to Pakistan.

Government sources said that Mr. Blair would hold talks with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, on Saturday. The British Prime Minister, during his whirlwind tour of the region, is also expected to meet the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, who has reached Moscow after talks in Brussels with the NATO Secretary-General, Mr. George Robertson.

Mr. Blair's visit assumes importance as Britain has emerged as the most vocal supporter of the U.S. in the global campaign against terrorism. It has already committed an aircraft carrier in the Gulf for possible operations. There are reports that it has also sent its special forces to Afghanistan.

The visit follows Mr. Blair's talks with the External Affairs and Defence Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, in London on Wednesday and a telephone conversation with Mr. Vajpayee the same day. Britain had condemned the attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and cited it as an example of international terrorism.

Analysts are bracketing Mr. Blair's visit with that of the U.S. Defence Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, to some Gulf states and Uzbekistan. Both visits are seen here as a final effort by the two countries to ensure that the front line of the coalition against terrorism is adequately prepared.

The visit to India may also be meant to ensure that India and Pakistan retain their focus only on combat, which may begin in Afghanistan soon.

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