*EPF402 07/25/2002
Excerpt: Powell Looks Forward to Consultations with India and Pakistan
(Tells reporters he will examine ways to reduce violence in Kashmir) (433)


Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters July 25 that he will travel to India and Pakistan to maintain and promote U.S. relations with ¡¦those two very important countries.?

He said he will also explore steps to further reduce violence in Kashmir. ¡¦I'm sure we will have discussions on the possibility of a dialogue at some point in the future between the two sides that will deal with the question of Kashmir,?Powell said.

The secretary plans to be in India July 27 and in Pakistan July 28.

Following is an excerpt of Powell¡¦s comments on his coming travel to South Asia, made during the July 25 press availability with Afghanistan¡¦s foreign minister.

(begin excerpt)


QUESTION: The attacks in India and Kashmir still continues, because there was another grenade attack yesterday. And the terrorists are saying that they will continue attacks in Kashmir. One, what would you achieve this time, because you have been there for two times and also your Deputy from the Defense and all that, and so on. So what is your mission at this time? And finally, if you are also flying or going to Kashmir. And if Mr. Foreign Minister also would like to comment on the question.

POWELL: I'm going to India and Pakistan to review our bilateral relations with each one of them. We have good relations with India and with Pakistan and it's important for the Secretary of State to regularly travel to those two very important countries to review the state of our relations. Of course, I will also talk about the current tension in the region. There has been some reduction in infiltrations across the line of control, but it is still unfortunately the case that there is violence. There is terrorist violence that takes place.

And in my conversations with the Indians and the Pakistanis, I will see if there are any other actions that can be taken that will reduce the level of violence or the potential for violence, and I'm sure we will have discussions on the possibility of a dialogue at some point in the future between the two sides that will deal with the question of Kashmir.


(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents