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U.S. hopes for India-Pak. talks

By Amit Baruah

Robert D. Blackwill

NEW DELHI Oct. 18. The decision to pull back troops from the border by India and Pakistan is a "very welcome development'' and a "very major step in the right direction'', the United States Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill, said here today.

Talking to The Hindu, Mr. Blackwill said the U.S. had hoped for months that such a "substantial de-escalatory step'' would take place. "We were worried that an incident could occur and you could have escalation.''

In response to questions, he said the elections in Jammu and Kashmir were "positive, credible, successful'' and the U.S. had made this clear in public. "But, of course, we hope, and it's my impression that the Government of India has the same view, that the quality of governance for the ordinary citizens of J&K can be substantially improved.'' He hoped that in the context of the de-escalation, the J&K elections and the naming of a new Pakistani Prime Minister soon, a dialogue would begin between India and Pakistan.

The U.S. was expressing its preference on what should be done, just as India did about American policies, he said and called for a "sustained, serious, specific'' India-Pakistan dialogue. The U.S. could not "decide outcomes'' on the issues that divided the South Asian neighbours.

Asked if Washington had a view of a final Kashmir settlement, Mr. Blackwill said: "No. That question can only be answered by the Governments of India and Pakistan. There are no blueprints in Washington... no maps... no prescriptions in Washington on this score.''

He was all for the resumption of sporting and people-to-people contacts between India and Pakistan, quickly adding he was no expert on cricket. "These are not high politics. People getting on trains going back and forth; meeting their relatives on the other side of the line... these will be useful steps.''

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