The Hindu : Infiltrations should end permanently: U.S.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 23, 2002

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International

Infiltrations should end permanently: U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington June 22. The United States looks to both India and Pakistan to continue to take steps to ensure that an end to crossings along the Line of Control from the Pakistani side is permanent.

The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, was asked if the recent spate of violence in Kashmir meant that the progress made had slipped back. "There is always concern watching these developments. We also look to both sides to continue to take steps to make the end to crossing along the Line of Control permanent on the Pakistani side and to continue to take steps to reduce tensions,'' Mr. Boucher said.

He said the Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, had not made any telephone calls to India and Pakistan in the light of the very recent goings on in Kashmir. "...We are still in touch with the parties through our Ambassadors primarily,'' he added.

The State Department continues to maintain that there has been a substantial reduction in the infiltration levels across the LoC. "Declined significantly, I think is still the phrase'', Mr. Boucher said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Group of Eight are having their summit in the Western Canadian Ski resort of Kananaskis next week and one of the topics of discussion is expected to be the tensions in the sub-continent.

The leaders of the G-8 have three main items on their agenda: terrorism, global economic growth and sustainable development; and a plan to help Africa come out of poverty.

Issues that the leaders are expected to discuss, apart from India and Pakistan, will include West Asia and a U.S. plan to boost nuclear non-proliferation projects in Russia.

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