Rumsfeld Pushes India, Pakistan to Lower Tensions

12/06/2002| IslamWeb

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Wednesday India had taken constructive steps toward averting a war with Pakistan, but that Washington was anxious to see tensions lowered further. Rumsfeld, expected to press nuclear-armed India and Pakistan for a series of goodwill measures to reduce the risk of war, was holding meetings with senior Indian ministers in New Delhi on Wednesday before flying later to Islamabad. (Read photo caption)

But even before Rumsfeld left for Islamabad, Pakistan said India needed to take more steps to de-escalate tensions, such as agreeing to face-to-face talks, ratcheting up the pressure on India to resume discussions over the divisive issue of Kashmir.
Rumsfeld met his Indian counterpart, George Fernandes.

Neither side would give details of their talks but Rumsfeld said before his arrival that he came with "no single proposal."

PAKISTAN WANTS MORE

Tensions between the neighbors have already eased somewhat after India reopened its airspace to Pakistani flights and recalled warships patrolling off Pakistani waters, but Pakistan is pushing for more.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday he wanted to see both sides pull back from the border, where a million men have been mobilized since a December attack on the Indian parliament that India blamed on Pakistan-based Kashmiri separatists.

Analysts said Rumsfeld was expected to press India to tone down its military posture and in turn persuade Islamabad to take further steps against Kashmiri militants based in Pakistan.

Rumsfeld said on Tuesday he was not prescribing a set remedy.

PHOTO CAPTION

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (L) shakes the hand of Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes in New Delhi June 12, 2002. Rumsfeld said India had taken constructive steps toward averting a war with Pakistan, but that Washington was anxious to see tensions lowered further. (Kamal Kishore/Reuters)