DATE=3/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK / CLINTON VISIT (L-O)
NUMBER=2-260551
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Final preparations are being made for
President Clinton's arrival Saturday in the Pakistani
capital. As correspondent Scott Anger reports from
Islamabad, Pakistan's military rulers are expecting
tough talks with President Clinton on a number of
issues, including the country's return to democracy
and its long dispute with India over Kashmir.
TEXT: President Clinton is expected to push
Pakistan's military government to back down in the
conflict with India over the Himalayan region of
Kashmir. While speaking to India's parliament earlier
this week, the president ruled out a U-S role in
mediating the dispute.
Pakistan's military leader General Pervez Musharraf
says he will stress to President Clinton the
importance of settling the Kashmir dispute, which he
says is the core issue dividing the two countries.
Political analyst Talat Masood says both India and
Pakistan need to open dialogue at some level to reduce
tensions in the region. He believes the United States
has the influence to help restart the dialogue.
/// MASOOD ACT ///
What they [the United States] could do is to
push both these countries to revert to dialogue
at the foreign minister's level.
/// END ACT///
Pakistan and India have fought two full-scale wars
over Kashmir and came close to a third last year.
There are fears that another conflict between the two
countries could escalate into a nuclear war.
Pakistan became a nuclear state in 1998, after it
successfully tested nuclear devices as a response to
India's testing earlier the same year.
High on President Clinton's agenda during his five-
hour visit will be to push the military rulers for the
return of democracy to Pakistan. The United States
has been urging General Musharraf to announce a
timetable for general elections since he ousted the
elected government last October.
During a crowded news conference in the capital
Thursday, the general announced that local elections
would be held later this year. He says these
elections are the first steps towards the restoration
of civilian rule in the country.
/// OPT /// Mr. Masood says the announcement of local
elections will not help the democratic process in
Pakistan because it bars political parties from taking
part in the elections.
/// MASOOD ACT TWO - OPT ///
I think it's a great setback to democracy. We
need the initiation of the political process in
which the active and robust engagement of the
political parties is necessary. This is what
has been lacking in Pakistan. The lack of
institutional level of political parties has
been one of the greatest weaknesses of Pakistan
ever since its inception.
/// END ACT - END OPT ///
U-S officials have welcomed General Musharraf's move
to hold local elections but have criticized him for
not giving a time frame for conducting national
elections.
Meanwhile, security for the president's visit is
extremely tight in Islamabad. Roads have been blocked
and soldiers have been stationed atop the city's
buildings.
/// REST OPT ///
President Clinton will land at a military base near
the capital and will be driven to Islamabad, where he
will hold official talks. Mr. Clinton is expected to
address the Pakistani people in a speech that will be
broadcast nationwide. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/JO
24-Mar-2000 07:18 AM EDT (24-Mar-2000 1218 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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