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Bill pussyfoots around Kashmir, CTBT with Atal

George Iype in New Delhi

United States President Bill Clinton did not seek any commitment from India on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty during his meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday. Nor did he propose American intervention in the contentious Kashmir issue.

Briefing reporters on the Vajpayee-Clinton summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, National Security Advisor and Principal Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office Brajesh Mishra said there was "near total agreement" between India and US on a gamut of issues.

Differences, however, existed on certain others.

"Differences of opinion cropped up on the question of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and on the issue of India's pledge to keep its own security," Mishra said.

Clinton, assisted by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Security Advisor Sandy Berger, talked to Vajpayee's team, which included External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Mishra, for 45 minutes. Then, Vajpayee and Clinton had a one-to-one for 10 minutes. Thereafter followed a 45-minute delegation level talks.

"The Vajpayee-Clinton summit was a frank discussion on many issues like disarmament, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, violations on the Line of Control and co-operation in political and economic fields," Mishra said.

He termed the meeting and the Vision Statement a grand success that will deepen "the warm relations" between India and United States in the coming months.

A major highlight of the delegation level talks was "the emergence of a total agreement on South Asia, on the need to reduce tension in the region" that President Clinton recently termed as "the most dangerous place on earth."

Mishra claimed the greatest victory for India out of the meeting was the four proposals from the American president to bring back peace and normalcy to South Asia and the US's strongest-ever remark that "the Line of Control should be respected."

"It is for the first time that the United States has made such a specific and bold statement on the Line of Control," he remarked.

The national security advisor said there was no effort from the US to force a discussion "on the long-term problem of Kashmir."

"Our discussion were correctly focussed on the current situation and the need to solve the current problem," he said stating that issues like the legality of the controversial Instrument of Succession did not come up.

China and the security of South Asia were fleetingly touched upon during the delegation level talks.

On the continuing economic sanctions on India by the US, Mishra said the Indian prime minister discussed the matter with the US president. Clinton has assured Vajpayee that steps to ease sanctions are being taken.

On the sensitive CTBT issue, India insisted what it has been doing for the past many years: the country's nuclear programme is to ensure a minimum credible deterrent and that India will not engage in any nuclear arms race in the sub-continent.

As expected, no breakthrough emerged on the CTBT and the non-proliferation issues. "President Clinton sought no commitment from India on the CTBT. No did he offer third party mediation in Kashmir," Mishra said.

But it was decided that India and US would continue their efforts to settle their differences on the non-proliferation issues. Thus, a number of talks between Jaswant Singh and Strobe Talbot is expected in the near future.

India energetically took up Pakistan's continued violation on the LoC and cited the latest incident of the massacre of 36 Sikh villagers by militants as an example of cross-border terrorism.

India also presented to the US team "complete proof" about the involvement of the major militant outfits like Hizbul Mujahiddin and Lashkar-e-Toiba, which Mishra said were behind the Sikh killings, in Kashmir.

Clinton, for his part, urged the Indian side "to go back to the Lahore process of peace" and "the negotiation table." India insisted that Clinton should take up the issues of terrorism and border violations with Pakistan.

Clinton is scheduled to leave for Islamabad Saturday. India expects the US president to use "the strongest and harshest words" to bring about respect for the LoC and reduce tension in the region.

India also expects "a thorough briefing by US officials" on Clinton's discussions with Pakistani officials, Mishra said.

CLINTON VISITS INDIA: The complete coverage

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