17 July 2002
U.S. Presses for Permanent End to Kashmir Infiltrations
(Views October elections as key to Pakistan's stability) (1141)
Calling upon all sides in Kashmir to exercise restraint, State
Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said a permanent end to
infiltrations across the Line of Control remains an issue of "the
highest priority."
Speaking to reporters at the July 17 daily State Department briefing
in Washington, Boucher said creating an environment for a political
process between Pakistan and India was vital. "Violence won't bring
peace to Kashmir," he said.
Praising Pakistan as one of the "foremost and indispensable allies" of
the United States in the war against terrorism, Boucher said the Bush
Administration views the Pakistani elections to be held in October
2002 as a "very important" step for Pakistan's return to democracy.
"We look to those to be held and to open up the democratic process. As
one of the steps on the road back to democracy, that remains key to
us. And we think that remains key to providing Pakistan with the kind
of stability that it wants over the longer term," said Boucher.
"President Musharraf has announced some fairly bold measures within
his own society to try to move Pakistan on a more moderate course. And
our interest is in helping Pakistan move in that direction," he said.
Following is an excerpt from the July 17 State Department briefing
containing Boucher's comments on South Asia:
(begin excerpt)
QUESTION: One, the situation in India or in Kashmir is not very good
now, because yesterday another incident, almost 30 or 35 were murdered
in a temple. And now the Secretary leaves soon for India and Pakistan.
Do you think he's getting now another new message, or how he is going
to deal with the leaders now? Because violence is still continuing.
MR. BOUCHER: First of all, let me make clear that we have condemned
the continuing violence. We believe that the situation cannot be
resolved by this kind of conflict. It's vital to all sides in Kashmir
to exercise restraint, to take steps to reduce the violence, to try to
help create an environment for a political process to resolve the
conflict. Violence won't bring peace to Kashmir.
The US and the international community continue diplomatic efforts to
encourage India and Pakistan to move away from armed conflict. As
we've mentioned before, President Musharraf has assured us that
infiltration across the line of control will be ended permanently. We
continue to look to him to take the steps to make that effective.
Ensuring that infiltration across the line of control has ended
permanently continues to be highest priority for Pakistan, and we'll
continue to follow that issue closely. I would point out that since
September 11th Pakistan has been and continues to be one of our
foremost and indispensable allies in the war against terrorism. As
President Musharraf has pointed out, Pakistan has also been a victim
of terror and extremism, and together we're working on fighting the
scourge.
So the issues that we look forward to discussing with India and
Pakistan, I think first and foremost, the relationships that we have
with each of these governments, each of these countries separately;
how we work with Pakistan on its role and its position, the reforms
that it's undertaking, the support that we can give to that, how we
work with India on the developing relationship we have with India.
Second of all is the global fight against terrorism, where Pakistan in
particular has played a role because of its proximity and the bold
decisions that President Musharraf has played. And also we looked at
discussing with them the relationship that they have -- the issue of
Kashmir and how to continue to reduce the violence, continue to ease
the tensions, and continue to end the infiltration across the line of
control.
QUESTION: Any comments or any -- and do you see any change in the
State Department, or US or India policy? Recently Prime Minister
Vajpayee made changes in his cabinet, especially (inaudible) foreign
minister and finance minister.
MR. BOUCHER: We declined to get involved in anybody's internal
political decisions the other day, and I'll continue to do that today.
QUESTION: And finally, one more. Congressman Pallone has written a
letter, I think including the Secretary of State and the President. He
is condemning that General Musharaf is trying to change the
constitution of Pakistan in order to remain in power or extend his
military rule.
MR. BOUCHER: I don't know this particular letter.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)
MR. BOUCHER: Again, I haven't seen this particular letter. I think our
position was quite clear. We stated it many times that the return to
democracy in Pakistan is very important. We look to the elections that
President Musharraf has announced and reconfirmed for October. We look
to those to be held and to open up the democratic process as one of
the steps on the road back to democracy. That remains key to us, and
we think that remains key to providing Pakistan with the kind of
stability that it wants over the longer term.
QUESTION: Some Indian officials are calling for the US to list
Pakistan on its state sponsors of terrorism list, claiming that
Pakistan has not done enough to curb terrorism against India, and that
actually infiltrations across the line of control have not subsided.
Has the Indian Government asked you to make such a designation, and
can you bring us up to date on Pakistan's efforts to curb
infiltrations?
MR. BOUCHER: Well, I think first, Pakistan will have to bring you up
to date on Pakistan's efforts to curb infiltration. We would say what
we've said before: infiltration is down across the line of control; it
needs to be made permanent; and further steps need to be taken, for
example, against the camps where these people could come from. So
there are more efforts required, but infiltration is down.
(end excerpt)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
