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16 June 1998

DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN ESSENTIAL, INDERFURTH SAYS

(Asst. Sec. discusses South Asian situation, US concerns) (380)
By Rick Marshall
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The United States considers it essential that India and
Pakistan begin direct talks on the issues that divide them, Karl
Inderfurth, assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, said
at a special June 16 briefing at the State Department.
The nuclear tests that India and Pakistan conducted last month "have
led South Asia in a dangerous direction," Inderfurth said. "Sadly, we
now face a new security environment," one in which both countries are
now less, rather than more, secure.
The testing caused the United States to impose automatic sanctions on
the two South Asian states under legislation known as the Glenn
Amendment. The precise details of what this entails are expected to be
made public this week, Inderfurth said.
However, he said, "the sanctions will stay in place for a very long
time. ... There will be a requirement for concrete steps" before
Congress will even consider lifting them.
At the same time, Inderfurth stressed that the United States considers
both Pakistan and India friendly, responsible nations and wants to
engage both of them in reducing tensions on the subcontinent.
To this purpose, Inderfurth said, the U.S. is looking for India and
Pakistan to take the following steps:
-- refrain from weaponizing their nuclear capability or deploying the
ballistic missiles each is working on;
-- halt the production of fissile material;
-- participate in the Geneva negotiations on a Fissile Materials
Cut-Off Treaty;
-- sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) without delay:
-- make a formal pledge not to share the nuclear technology they have
acquired with other nations; and
-- agree on a solid framework to deal with their mutual differences,
including Kashmir.
Inderfurth said that Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had "a
good meeting" with a special Indian envoy on the 12th and that the
U.S. is hoping to have similar in-depth discussions with the
Pakistanis soon.
Inderfurth also said that President Clinton would like to be able to
visit South Asia in the fall, as had been planned, but that the
Administration would have to evaluate how much progress Pakistan and
India have made before deciding. He added that he does not expect a
decision any time soon.