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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON, JULY 5: Pakistan has agreed to pull back forces that have crossed the Line of Control after a panicky Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made a midnight dash to Washington on Sunday amid international opprobrium, diplomatic ruin, and most recently, military reverses.
As Indian forces re-established control over the strategic Tiger Hills over the weekend and readied for a punishing follow-up, Sharif held three hours of talks with President Clinton at the end of which he capitulated to the main Indian -- and American -- demand: that Pakistan withdraw its intruders before presenting any wish list.
A joint statement issued by the two leaders at the end of talks held at Blair House -- a government mansion across the street from the White House -- said they agreed that it was vital for the peace of South Asia that the LoC be respected by both parties (Pakistan and India), in accordance with their 1972 Simla Accord.
``It was agreed between the President and the Prime Minister that concrete steps will betaken for the restoration of the LoC in accordance with the Simla Agreement,'' the single-para, 179-word statement said.
US officials who briefed reporters on background following the meeting said they expected a withdrawal of Pakistani forces but were not certain of the time-frame. ``We would like to see positive steps in the very near future,'' one US official said.
They did not elaborate on what ``concrete steps'' Pakistan might take. ``The Prime Minister will have to make those decisions himself about how he will undertake to pursue what is contained in this document. I mean, we can't predict how he will go about that,'' one official said, suggesting that Washington was going to allow Sharif to decide how he would giftwrap, showcase, or administer his abject surrender to domestic hard-liners.The joint statement left no doubts either about Pakistani culpability in the two-month old imbroglio that has cost the lives of hundreds of Indian soldiers.
Although it made no reference to the nature of forceswhich have crossed the border, the very acceptance by Pakistan that the LoC needed to be restored indicated it acknowledged that it had violated it in the first place. US officials too made it clear that Pakistan instigated the current conflict. ``Our position has been that the forces across the LoC need to be returned to the Pakistani side... Our understanding is that there will be a withdrawal of forces,'' a senior administration official said.
When reporters sought clarifications as to whether a cessation ofhostilities meant both sides were being called to withdraw forces, the US official said: ``This is not, again, between both sides (India and Pakistan). This is a US-Pakistani joint press statement.''Q: Well, does it mean that only Pakistan will withdraw?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Those forces that have been involved, have crossed over to the Indian side of the LoC. Those are the forces that are being -- at issue.
Significantly, the joint statement also said the President ``urged animmediate cessation of the hostilities once these steps are taken'', implying that Indian forces were free to clean up the intruding forces till such time they were not withdrawn and the LoC respected.
Pakistan's gambit to draw US mediation and UN intervention into the issue also came a cropper as the statement referred twice to the Simla Accord with Washington brooking no reference to the United Nations or third party mediation.
``The President and the Prime Minister agreed that the bilateral dialogue begun in Lahore in February provides the best forum for resolving all issues dividing India and Pakistan, including Kashmir,'' the joint statement said.However, in deference to Islamabad's desire to keep the issue on the table, President Clinton said he would take ``personal interest'' in encouraging an expeditious resumption and intensification of bilateral efforts, with the caveat ``once the sanctity of the LoC has been fully restored''.
Clinton also reaffirmed his intent to pay an early visit toSouth Asia, marking a revival of his frequently-scuppered plans to travel to the region.
With the American Presidential election cycle expected to get into full swing early next year (Clinton will officially demit office on Jan 20, 2001, but his successor will be known by November 2000), and the Indian elections too scheduled for later this year, his only window of opportunity will be in the winter late in the year when a new Indian government is in place.
Text of joint statement
President Clinton and Prime Minister Sharif share the view that the current fighting in the Kargil region of Kashmir is dangerous and contains the seeds of a wider conflict. They also agreed that it was vital for the peace of South Asia that the Line of Control in Kashmir be respected by both parties, in accordance with their 1972 Simla Accord. It was agreed between the President and the Prime Minister that concrete steps will be taken for the restoration of the line of control in accordance with the Simla Agreement.ThePresident urged an immediate cessation of the hostilities once these steps are taken. The Prime Minister and President agreed that the bilateral dialogue begun in Lahore in February provides the best forum for resolving all issues dividing India and Pakistan, including Kashmir. The President said he would take a personal interest in encouraging an expeditious resumption and intensification of those bilateral efforts, once the sanctity of the Line of Control has been fully restored. The President reaffirmed his intent to pay an early visit to South Asia.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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