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Powell Arrives to Ease Tensions Between India, Pakistan
United States Secretary of States Colin Powell arrived Tuesday evening to ease tensions between Indian and Pakistan on Kashmir after his talks with Pakistan leaders in Islamabad.
After his talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf earlier on Tuesday in Islamabad, Powell reportedly said at a joint press conference that Kashmir issue was "central" to the relationship between India and Pakistan while stressing that beginning of a dialogue between the two neighbors was the "most important thing now."
India rejected Pakistan's proposal last June and during a summit meeting in early July between Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that the two countries should take Kashmir as a "core issue" in their relationship.
New Delhi has insisted that the whole Kashmir, including the area controlled by Pakistan, is a part of Indian territory and opposed a third party interference in any solution to the dispute.
India described militant activities in Kashmir as terrorism sponsored by Pakistan while Islamabad said what has been happening in the area is a "freedom struggle" by Moslem in India-controlled Kashmir.
Powell said in Islamabad that "beginning of a dialogue (between India and Pakistan) is the most important thing now. That is the message I will be taking to India."
He is scheduled to have wide-ranging discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh Tuesday night and call on Vajpayee on Wednesday.
However, it is widely believed here that the two sides are unlikely to reach an agreement on Kashmir though the U.S. official said before his arrival that he would try to ease the escalated tensions between the two countries.
An Indian official said before Powell's arrival that the visit provided an opportunity to exchange views on international and regional developments between the two countries following the tragic events of September 11 in the United States.
Official sources said the two sides would discuss steps to strengthen international coalition and enhance the ongoing Indo-U. S. counter-terrorism cooperation in pursuit of the long-term goal of combating the menace at the global level.
During his shot stay in the country, Powell will sign a mutual legal assistance treaty with Indian Home Affairs Minister L. K. Advani.
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