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Powell's visit fails to thaw Indo-Pak ties

Ramananda Sengupta in Mumbai

Chances of further de-escalation on the border and a dialogue between India and Pakistan are unlikely before the elections in Kashmir and in Pakistan slated for September and October, feels US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

However, 'Kashmir is on the international agenda' and the US was keen that India should release political prisoners and allow foreign observers during the elections, he told reporters in Bangkok on Sunday evening after talks with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi and Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad.

This was his third visit to the subcontinent in the past 10 months.

Powell, who arrived in New Delhi on Saturday evening, held an hour-long meeting with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha. The official banquet planned in his honour was cancelled owing to the death of Vice-President Krishan Kant the day before.

Speaking informally at a photo-session before their talks, Powell admitted that the situation not quite conducive for India Pakistan talks at the moment. "India has always held that if the necessary conditions for talks are created we will have talks, but we do not think the necessary condition exists at present," agreed Sinha.

Early on Sunday morning -- before meeting Prime Minister Vajpayee, his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra -- Powell addressed a press conference at Delhi's Maurya Sheraton.

After pointing out that the past 18 months had seen very positive interactions between the US and India, he said: "As the United States looks forward to pressing ahead with India on all of these fronts and more, we'll be doing it in a very intensive way as reflected in the number of visitors who will be coming to India in the weeks ahead."

"Deputy Secretary Armitage will return in August, Assistant Secretary John Wolf will be visiting in early September to begin a new strategic framework dialogue with a focus on proliferation efforts. Assistant Secretary Christina Rocca will come back in late September to kick-off a regional dialogue. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Mark Grossman will continue our security dialogue. Treasury Secretary O'Neill will be in New Delhi in November and Under Secretary of Commerce Ken Juster will also visit this fall. And we look forward to welcoming many Indian officials to the United States so it can be truly seen as a two way street going back and forth," he said.

However, his remark that 'permitting independent observers and freeing political prisoners would be helpful' during the election in Kashmir provoked a sharp reaction from Delhi.

While India had no objection to diplomats, journalists and visitors going to the state to witness the polls, 'official' monitoring of the polls by NGOs and other outfits would not be welcome, he was told.

"He should demand international monitors for Pakistan, where everyone knows the recent referendum was rigged and that the upcoming general elections too face the same fate," fumed an angry Ministry of External Affairs Official.

"Whereas our minister made it quite clear that there is no reason for anyone to doubt India's secular credentials," he said.

Besides, infiltration from Pakistan side had not stopped and Islamabad had failed to dismantle terrorist camps in Pakistan-held Kashmir, Powell was told.

"We have expressed hope that Pakistan will take a step before India takes any consequential measure," foreign office spokesperson Nirupama Rao told reporters in New Delhi.

"We have said very clearly we don't object to diplomatic or media representatives wishing to go to the state but not to investigate or certify the election," she said. "We do not need prescriptions or advice from international observers or self-styled monitors on conduct of elections. We have conducted free and fair elections in this country for 50 years now."

However, she conceded that 'we did not detect any false note during the visit', and the US 'clearly understood' India's concerns on cross-border terrorism, and described the talks as 'positive, constructive and fruitful'.

She also claimed that during his talks with Indian leaders, Powell had assured them that the US would increase pressure on Musharraf to abide by his early June promise to 'permanently end' support to terrorism.

The fact that infiltration had not stopped and Pakistan had done little to end terrorism was also conveyed to Powell during the half-hour meeting with Prime Minister Vajpayee, she said, adding the Kashmir polls would be a 'litmus test for Pakistan's intentions'.

Soon after his meetings with the top Indian leaders, Powell, who was accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, flew on to Pakistan for lunch with President Musharraf.

Musharraf, however, rejected India's assertions that infiltration had not stopped, and said that he was unwilling to make any further concessions.

"I don't have to do anything because we've already done it," he said at a photo session with Powell at his office in Islamabad. "It is already stopped in the past. It is not taking place and whatever the Indian side is saying is absolutely baseless."

Demanding that India agree to a dialogue to find an end to the standoff, he said, "Our stand is very, very clear. We need to start a dialogue on Kashmir and all of the issues... that's what we want to see."

"The reciprocation and response (we want) from them is to initiate a dialogue on Kashmir," he said.

He also reassured the American visitors that the nationwide legislative elections on October 10 would be 'free and fair'.

Which prompted Powell to say later that the Indians 'may also be wondering whether it is wise to wait -- to see what kind of government' New Delhi will have to deal with in possible future talks.

Terrorism Strikes in Jammu and Kashmir: The complete coverage

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