The Hindu : `Elections alone cannot solve problems'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 11, 2002

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`Elections alone cannot solve problems'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Oct. 10 . The United States is hopeful that the Jammu and Kashmir elections will help open up "diplomatic dialogue'' between India and Pakistan.

The U.S. Ambassador, Robert D. Blackwill, told the media at the end of a two-day `familiarisation visit' here on Thursday that the polls would provide a positive start for Indo-Pak. dialogue, but before that violence should stop. "We continue to note that elections in Kashmir alone cannot solve Indo-Pak. problems. We are hoping that it will open up diplomatic dialogue''.

On cross-border terrorism, he said the U.S. always held the view that any act of terrorism against India from any side or group was `unacceptable' and this was conveyed to the Pakistan President, Gen. Musharraf. India and the U.S. were working together to defeat terrorism and the past 13 months showed India to be among the latter's closest partners in the war against terrorism.On relations with India, `a great democracy', and Pakistan, run by a military general, Mr. Blackwill said the U.S. could not do any balancing act or choose between the two. It had strong, robust relations with both countries. Islamabad continued to be an important partner in identifying and apprehending Al-Qaeda and Taliban terrorists. This would benefit India as well, as "they (terrorists) do not wish India well''. He said Abu Salem, the terrorist nabbed in Portugal, should be extradited to India.

Relations wth India were the most important for the U.S. and since September 11 "we had the most intensive three-week meeting in the history of of our bilateral relations''.

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