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Powell Leaves India, Pakistan in Turmoil after South Asian Trip
NEW DELHI, Oct 17 (News Agencies) - Tensions between India and Pakistan were running high Wednesday as U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell left the South Asian subcontinent after a tightrope walk aimed at cooling relations between the nuclear rivals.
In New Delhi, Powell said the U.S. was seeking to end "all terrorism" including attacks, which New Delhi say are backed by Islamabad, that target the Indian occupation of Kashmir.
"We deplore terrorism wherever it exists, whether on September 11th or on October 1st in Srinagar," Powell said, referring to the bombing at the Kashmir legislature that killed 38.
Powell's lightning visit to New Delhi and Islamabad was primarily aimed at shoring up support of the U.S.-led action in Afghanistan aimed at the ruling Taliban militia and Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind of the terrorist atrocities in New York and Washington.
But he has also adopted the role of mediator between the Pakistan and India as sporadic violence and cross-border sparring in the disputed Kashmir region, which coincided with his visit, touched off smoldering antagonisms.
Only hours after he arrived in Islamabad late Monday, reports of an Indian strike against Pakistan border posts in Kashmir prompted U.S. President George W. Bush to urge both sides to "stand down".
Powell reiterated the message during his visit, during which both countries effectively pledged their support for the U.S.
Powell, who also met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L.K. Advani, said the U.S. and India stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" to fight terror.
He repeated comments he made in Islamabad in which he said Kashmir was "central" to India-Pakistan ties and the "aspirations" of the Kashmiris needed to be seen in ending the dispute.
But Vajpayee later said he had "made it clear" to Powell that Kashmir was not the "central" issue in India-Pakistan relations.
"Powell was categorically told that we do not agree that Kashmir is a central issue... He has also made some amendment in his views," Vajpayee said.
"We want a solution to this issue [Kashmir], without which our relations with Pakistan may not improve.
"India is also keen to resolve the Kashmir issue, but there are other problems that should be also discussed with Pakistan."
Powell's talks followed a pledge, made on Tuesday in Islamabad, to reward Pakistan for its cooperation in the coalition with "concrete steps" to shore up its economy.
He called on the pair to move forward "on the basis of dialogue, on the basis of efforts to reduce tension, to avoid violence and with respect to human rights."
India accuses Pakistan of backing Islamic insurgents in Kashmir, but Islamabad denies the allegation, saying it provides only moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.
The U.S. last week froze assets of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad, a Muslim group, in a nod to India.
Powell said he "encouraged" both sides on the need for dialogue on Kashmir and repeated his offer to be "helpful" if both countries wanted the U.S. to play a role.
Just as his plane took off from New Delhi, India and Pakistan launched into a renewed war of words over military deployments in Kashmir.
Indian sources in Kashmir spoke of troop mobilizations to prevent cross-border infiltration by "militants" from Pakistan, and Pakistan said India had moved "some troops and relocated some air force assets which may prove to be a threat."
India categorically denied the accusations of "threatening" movements and warned Pakistan to exercise caution in its statements.
The latest escalation is expected to cause further concern in Washington, which is keen to contain the nuclear-capable rivals in order to maintain stability within its international coalition against terrorism.
Meanwhile, Powell set off for the third leg of his trip, visiting Shanghai to discuss U.S.-China relations.
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