International

Military situation improving `modestly': Rumsfeld

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington June 21. The military situation on the ground between India and Pakistan is improving "modestly'' and the United States will continue to work with the two nations to find additional ways of reducing tensions, says the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld.

"Both nations have taken some initial steps that while not definite and not fully tested as yet, are indeed having a positive effect'', he said at the Washington Foreign Press Centre.

"Both sides are aware that the risks of war discourage international investment, travel in the region, and as a result, it damages the economies of both the countries as well as the people'', he said.

Mr. Rumsfeld said that during his trip to South Asia, both India and Pakistan "indicated a desire for continued U.S. involvement and expressed appreciation of the efforts of the U.S. President, George W. Bush, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair...The United States will continue to work with them to try to find additional ways to further reduce tensions''. He distanced himself from the notion that either his trip to South Asia or that of the Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, had a direct bearing on the reduction of tensions.

In the first place, Mr. Rumsfeld argued that various international leaders, including that of the U.S. and the U.K., had played a role. Second, "India and Pakistan have taken a series of steps that have had the effect of reducing tensions somewhat'', he said making the point that he did not draw the "direct tight linkage'' between his trip to the subcontinent and the reduction in tensions. He dispelled the notion that either he or the U.S. had "additional'' measures in mind for further reduction of tensions in South Asia.

"I think what will need to be done is for each side to recognise the damage that is done, that the level of tension — the damage that causes to their respective economies and to their people, and keep looking, as they are, for opportunities to take steps that will reduce those tensions'', the Defence Secretary maintained.

Mr. Rumsfeld said a number of steps have been taken by both countries. He said Pakistan "can't probably know everything'' that is taking place across the Line of Control. "The Pakistani side has, by all reports, significantly reduced infiltration across the LoC. That can't probably know everything that's taking place, because it's a very rugged land, just as the area between Afghanistan and Pakistan is very rugged terrain''.

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