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Vajpayee-Musharraf summit tops Sattar-Powell meet

Aziz Haniffa
India Abroad Correspondent in Washington

The forthcoming summit meeting between Atal Bihari Vajpayee and General Pervez Musharraf figured prominently in the discussions on Tuesday between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar.

When Powell was asked after the 90-minute meeting if India should trust Musharraf, he said: "I think anytime the leaders of two great countries such as India and Pakistan get together to discuss issues that are of enormous complication, it's got to be a good thing."

Sattar, who was with Powell at the press briefing was visibly irritated with the question, and declared: "This is a moment of hope in relations between Pakistan and India and General Pervez Musharraf has exercised utmost restraint to ensure that the atmosphere is not in any way adversely affected by statements with regard to our positions on the Kashmir question."

Earlier, when this reporter asked Powell if the Kashmir question was discussed, Sattar pre-empted Powell, and said: "I have talked about this issue and expressed the hope that in the meeting that is to take place next month between General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minisster Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the two leaders will address this issue in a constructive manner that will lead to a settlement acceptable to the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir."

When Powell was pressed as to what he thought about the situation, he replied: "I parallel what the minister just said. We did discuss it in the vein that he just described."

Significantly, in a positive opening remark indicating a thawing of relations with Pakistan, Powell said: "We had a very, very good and fruitful discussion on all the issues on our mutual agenda." The US secretary of state also added that he was impressed by preparations made by Pakistan for elections next year.

About sanctions, Powell acknowledged that the subject came up for discussion and added that the issue would be dealt with in the "spirit of dialogue and cooperation."

Many US officials argue that sanctions against Pakistan should not be lifted till it returns to democracy and stops support to the Taleban.

With an eye on persuading the US to lift sanctions, Sattar said: "I have informed the secretary of state that Pakistan will maintain the moratorium on further tests; that Pakistan will not be the first country to resume testing in future."

ALSO SEE:
Indo-Pak Summit 2001

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