Powell to 'ease Indo-Pak. tensions'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 12. The U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, is travelling to Pakistan and India not merely to ``thank'' the two countries for their ``cooperation'' with the U.S. in this war against terrorism, but to ease tensions between India and Pakistan who are still ``shooting, shouting and glaring at each other'' over Kashmir, if the remarks of his Deputy, Mr. Richard Armitage, are anything to go by.

Mr. Armitage was talking to a group of newspersons some of whom likely to travel with Gen. Powell on his visit to South and South-East Asia. He is expected in India early next week.

``One of the reasons he (Gen. Powell) is going to South-East Asia, in addition to the discussions with the Pakistanis, is to probe the minds of the Pakistanis and Indians and see if there is not a way to lower the temperature,'' Mr. Armitage was quoted as saying. Mr. Armitage is said to have recalled a remark of the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mr. William Webster, who called Kashmir one of the most dangerous places in the world. ``He was right eleven years ago, and I think he's still right now and that's one of the reasons the Secretary's going.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : A step forward, says India
Next     : Protests in Kashmir against U.S. attacks