15 January 2002

Powell Departs for South Asia, Japan

Washington -- Secretary of State Colin Powell left the United States January 15 for a six-day visit to South Asia and Japan to seek reduced tensions in South Asia and to participate in a conference on Afghan reconstruction.

Powell will meet with Indian and Pakistani leaders to urge the reduction of tensions between the countries, and to ask for their further cooperation in the international fight against terrorism.

After leaving South Asia, Powell will represent the United States at the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan in Tokyo January 21.

Prior to his departure, Powell was interviewed January 14 on major U.S. television networks. His remarks were aired to the U.S. public during the prime-time newscasts of CNN, FOX, ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Powell repeated his praise of Pakistani President Musharraf's speech, on Fox News, calling it "quite historic." "He is an Islamic leader who came out strongly and talked about his religion. It's a religion of peace. It's a religion of tolerance. And I think that was very impressive, and the Indians took note of that," said Powell.

Despite encouraging signals from both sides, Powell remained concerned over how delicate the situation remained.

"I think both sides realize that they are nuclear armed, and the last thing that can be allowed to happen in South Asia is a conflict that would result in the use of such weapons," said Powell in his interview with NBC's Tom Brokaw.

"If you had another act of terror of the kind we saw in New Delhi last month, then everything can be escalated back up to a very dangerous level," said Powell on CBS.

Turning to Afghanistan, Powell said on CNN that the international community was ready to stand alongside the new interim authority, headed by Hamid Karzai. "A lot of people are waiting to help, and a lot of resources are going to be available," he said.

"This is a very broken country and everyone who has been over there comes back with the same tale: everything, everything is needed - a police force, a military that functions, a health care system, fresh water, housing, education, you name it," said Powell on Fox News.

Responding to a question about Iran during the NBC interview, Powell praised Iran's participation in the conference held in Bonn that established the Afghan interim authority. But at the same time, he said he was troubled by the conduct of some elements within the Iranian government that have been reported to be trying to undermine the Afghan interim authority's influence in western Afghanistan.

"We can have a reasonable conversation with Iran. We can, I think over time, show it is in their interest not to take the kind of actions that will destabilize a government that they helped create in Bonn," said Powell on NBC.

In response to press speculation over the next phase of the U.S. war against terrorism, Powell said on ABC, "Rather than look for a specific country to go after, we're going after terrorism." He explained that, in some cases, it would involve helping countries that are faced with domestic terrorist organizations that threatened their own countries, as well as the United States.