Imran draws unusual interest in US

The Nation : Tehrik-I-Insaf chief Imran Khan has held a flurry of meetings with senior officials of the Clinton administration, leading members of the think-tanks, some congressional leaders and the media. The unusual interest evoked by him in the capital belt among people who formulate or influence policy making in the United States surprised many observers here. Imran tried to bring home message that a change was inevitable in Pakistan to save the country from economic collapse and political anarchy. He is the first leading member of the Opposition visiting the United States since a combined front of the Opposition was formed on one-point agenda of removing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Among those meeting Imran are Bruce Reidel, Special Assistant on South Asia to President Clinton and National Security Council director, Allan Easthman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

A meeting withAssistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Karl Inderfurth, was called off because of Karl's sudden engagement. Imran Khan said the United States must not try to prop up a discredited government which has failed to deliver anything to its own people and in fulfillment of commitment made to international financial institutions as also the international community. He dispelled the impression that extremist religious parties now dominated the political scene in Pakistan. He said the people of Pakistan had always upheld enlightened view of Islam ``and are fast converging around a united front of the opposition which comprised mostly of parties with a liberal nationalist agenda.''

Army didn't sabotage talks: Sartaj

The Nation: Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday said in categorical terms that the Army had not sabotaged the process of talks between India and Pakistan following the Lahore Declaration by undertaking the Kargil operation. ``The speculation is being spread and we don't know who isdoing this,'' the Foreign Minister said in response to a point of order of Senator Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch. This related to a statement of Niaz A. Naik that had the Kargil operation not been conducted, Pakistan and India would have reached a settlement on Kashmir issue by September/October 1999.

``I strongly contradict the impression, if any, being given by anybody that Army has sabotaged the talks,'' Sartaj said. He said he had deliberated in detail on Kargil issue during the in-House briefing to parliamentarians. However, he said he had not yet seen Naik's statement. ``He may have given his personal opinion.'' He said Sharif would go to India on his return from China if India as ready to agree to these conditionalities and a joint statement.