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India, US in 'real-time engagement': Naresh Chandra

Indian Ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra on Thursday said India and the United States are in ''real-time engagement'', exploring ways to end the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC- 814.

He also refuted media reports that suggested US President Bill Clinton may cancel his trip to South Asia in the wake of the hijacking. ''The subject is not under review and the visit remains as before,'' he said.

He said India is also looking at roles that other ''friendly countries'' could play to defuse the situation.

''Cooperation between the United States and India has increased and deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott is applying his mind to the issue,'' Chandra said, while addressing correspondents in the afternoon.

Chandra said he had several meetings with US State Department officials including Talbott, over the past few days. He also met US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Thomas Pickering on Thursday to discuss the situation arising out of the hijacking.

He said the United States's response is supportive in nature, but declined to divulge details of the cooperation, stating that it was not appropriate at the moment to say ''what they do and what they can do.''

Chandra said the Taleban had also conducted itself well and ''is doing the honourable thing of protecting the innocent passengers.'' The Taleban militia has threatened to storm the aircraft if the hijackers start killing the passengers or if they hear shots being fired inside the plane.

The ambassador said India was not trying to derive negative publicity for Pakistan, and the foremost priority is to ensure the safety and freedom of the hostages.

Asked which countries he thought are involved in the hijacking, Chandra said he would reserve his judgement about it right now. However, he said, ''Obviously the Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen is behind it." He said Pakistan's policy of providing moral, political and diplomatic support to these groups is the chief reason for their audacious activities.

Chandra said the recent upsurge of terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir and the hijacking were part of a larger attempt to destabilise India. ''Somebody is directing them,'' he said.

To a query whether the Indian government is mulling over the option of sending commandos to storm the plane, he replied that this is not being considered at the moment.

UNI

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