US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell has sought to ease Indian suspicions over the US/Pakistan rapprochement and its implications for the disputed region of Kashmir.
Mr Powell opened talks with Indian officials aimed at defusing the tensions in Kashmir that erupted into heavy artillery barrages this week, having discussed the situation with Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf yesterday.
India is wary of the US promise to Pakistan of hundreds of millions dollars in aid and increased military and diplomatic co-operation. The House of Representatives passed a bill last night giving President Bush power to lift sanctions against the country. The bill had been unanimously passed by the Senate on October 5th.
However, the bill also authorises providing aid to India - as well as Pakistan - if President Bush determines it important to US efforts to "respond to, deter, or prevent acts of international terrorism."
While the bill formally gives equal treatment to both countries, it is primarily applicable to Pakistan because most sanctions against India have already been waived.
India will be impressing on Mr Powell the need to expand the war on terrorism to the disputed Indian province of Kashmir, where it accuses Pakistan of supporting Islamic extremists.
Mr Powell, yesterday said the dispute over Kashmir was "central" to India/Pakistan relations, is meeting various Indian cabinet ministers before seeing Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Indian officials are expected to raise concerns about Mr Powell's comments on Kashmir, which included a statement stressing the need to consider the "aspirations" of the Kashmiri people in ending the dispute.
India opposes Pakistan's view that Kashmir is the "core" issue in their relationship and has already rejected Mr Powell's comment. "We certainly do not agree with that premise," Indian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mr Nirupama Rao said.
Pakistan argues that Kashmiri Muslims are oppressed and regards Indian military retaliation of the type launched on Monday as "state terrorism."
Islamabad has long been seeking US or UN mediation in Kashmir. India opposes any third party intervention on the grounds that Kashmir is an integral part of its sovereign territory.
In addition to talks on Kashmir, Mr Powell is expected to soothe India's concerns about the US alliance with Pakistan in the anti-terrorism war.
A senior State Department official sought to allay Indian concerns. "What we do with Pakistan won't subtract from our relationship with you," he said.
US officials say Pakistani co-operation with the coalition is critical because of Islamabad's proximity to Afghanistan and its ties to the Taliban.
AFP