to get involved in the Kashmir dispute, rejecting a strong
pressure to this effect by visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharief.
In a letter to the president last night, Ackerman, who
returned to the congress as Democrat nine times from the New York area,
said, ''Let me take this opportunity to salute your public
announcement that the United States does not plan to become involved
in the ongoing negotiations between India and Pakistan on the
Kashmir issue.
''I am certain you faced strong pressure from Prime Minister
Sharief, whose government has long sought to bring the United States
into this matter,'' he added.
Ackerkman said, ''As we both know, however, the United States
cannot and should not involve itself in sensitive negotiations of
this nature when both countries have not asked for intervention. I
agree with you that the present discussions between Sharief and
Prime Minister A B Vajpayee are a positive development and we
should encourage both political leaders to work diligently to resolve
their differences.''
Ackerman commended President Clinton for urging the
dissolution of the relationship between the Taliban in Afghanistan
and the government of Pakistan. "I believe that it is important to
our efforts in combating terrorism worldwide that organisations like
the Taliban are isolated from the global community.''
''As a senior member of the house of representatives'
international relations committee, I share your strong desire to see
peace and stability in South Asia. I pledge to continue working with
you in formulating sound US policies towards this important region
of the world,'' he added.
UNI
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