ELECTION 99
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Mishra rules out talks with Pakistan

National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra met senior American officials in Washington and repeated his country's refusal to talk to Pakistan until it halts backing for guerrillas in Kashmir.

Mishra, whose talks touched on the military takeover in Pakistan, told reporters: "Even when there was a civilian government we kept saying that unless cross-border terrorism is stopped, meaningful talks with Pakistan could not take place. The situation is the same today."

A blossoming dialogue on nuclear non-proliferation and other issues was interrupted when India's coalition government fell last April.

On Pakistan, he said: "We expressed our concern at the unconstitutional changeover in Pakistan and the security implications of it for India. The US has a much better understanding of our security concerns as a result of the changeover."

Mishra declined to discuss the US attitude towards the Pakistani coup. Washington has urged the military to restore democratic rule as quickly as possible and invoked economic sanctions.

"We were told here that the United States is still insisting on early restoration of democracy in Pakistan. This is the way it has been said to us," Mishra said.

Asked whether India would move towards signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which is a goal of the Clinton administration, he said: "I repeated our well-known position that the government will try to form a consensus on the question of CTBT."

He added: "The elections are just over. The new government has come in. The next session of Parliament will be a very brief session. But I presume that when we get into the winter session of Parliament there will be a thorough discussion on CTBT... It is not possible to adhere to CTBT without having a consensus in the country."

The White House had planned for a visit to India and Pakistan by President Bill Clinton early next year, but the military takeover in Pakistan has made such a trip less likely.

Mishra saw senior White House and State Department officials as well as key trade figures.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report