US accepts India's terms for Gujral-Clinton talks

The United States has accepted Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral's terms for a summit with President Bill Clinton in New York next month, indicating that its ''principal focus'' would be on Indo-US bilateral relations.

Making a statement to this effect in Washington on Thursday night, a senior state department official said that the US supported -- and was encouraged by -- the recently resumed India-Pakistan dialogue. He ruled out any kind of American mediation in the 50-year-old Kashmir dispute or in the current round of skirmishes between the two countries, as reported by an news agency.

Replying to a question, the official said the US was ''delighted'' that Kashmir figured on the agenda of the India-Pakistan talks and that a working group had been established to deal with the dispute.

''We are going to watch very carefully, and, we hope the parties would be able to see their way to some resolution. We are not going to get into the middle of this process. We are going to be a supporter of this process,'' he added.

Earlier, the Indian embassy in Washington had explained to the state department Gujral's statement that his talks with Clinton should focus only on bilateral issues.

''And, that is what it will be on,'' the official remarked. He said both Clinton and Gujral ''are fascinating individuals. They have a lot to discuss. Both are very thoughtful men. I hope their meeting will take place.''

The officials said Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth would leave for a tour of South Asian countries on September 1, beginning with New Delhi. ''The purpose of his visit is to make it clear that we want to move forward in our relations with South Asia,'' he said.

Inderfurth, who had replaced Robin Raphel, has been asked to develop the US relations with the South Asian countries ''to the fullest''.

The official said security issues like the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty remained very much on ''our agenda with both India and Pakistan. It is a top priority for us.''

He said the US had differences with India on several disarmament issues. ''There are areas of agreement too and in this context he referred to the Chemical Weapons Treaty as one important step.''

India had signed the treaty and the US is urging Pakistan to follow suit, he added.

In reply to a question, he said both China and India are enormously important countries for the future of the region and the globe. ''We very much understand the importance of looking at the region as a whole with all of the major actors,'' he added.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
Pak must not figure in Gujral-Clinton summit: India
Gujral meets Clinton in September, LoC to be major part of talks