'U.S. not for independent Kashmir'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, OCT. 17. The U.S. State Department, in continuing to call for a dialogue between India and Pakistan for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, has clarified that Washington is not pushing the idea of a separate or an independent Muslim state.

When the Deputy Spokesman of the State Department, Mr. Philip Reeker, was asked on Tuesday if the Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, was endorsing the idea of an independent state, he reiterated the standard line which, among other things, calls upon India and Pakistan to resolve the issue through a dialogue, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Mr. Reeker rejected the notion that there had been a ``new'' formulation of policy, and the questioner's perception that the Kashmiri people aspired for an independent Muslim state and it had been approved of by Gen. Powell during his trip to the region.

``No, and I am not endorsing your concept of the belief of the people of Kashmir. So I think we will continue to have the same policy on Kashmir that we've had for so many years; and that is that the two sides need to resolve this peacefully and the way to do that is through dialogue. And it's important for all sides to reduce the violence and to try to pursue a dialogue,'' Mr. Reeker said during the regular briefing.

Meanwhile, it is not clear if the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, will sign the bill that lifts all the sanctions against Pakistan before leaving for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting in Shanghai today. He has expressed his support for the measure, which was cleared in the House of Representatives through a voice vote on Tuesday after having been cleared by the Senate unanimously on October 5.

The bill, which was sponsored by the Senator, Mr. Sam Brownback, authorises Mr. Bush to exercise waivers of foreign assistance restrictions to Pakistan by September 30, 2003. It also authorises him to assist Pakistan - and India - if a determination is made that it is in the national interest of the U.S. and important in the efforts to ``respond to, deter or prevent acts of international terrorism.''

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Section  : International
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