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Albright for immediate talks on Kashmir with US help

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Wednesday issued an urgent call for a dialogue between Pakistan and India on occupied Kashmir "with whatever assistance we (US) can give."

Testifying on the foreign assistance budget before the senate foreign relations committee, she said the United States would continue its efforts "to ease tensions in South Asia."

She described occupied Kashmir as a fuse, and the region a tinderbox following the occupied Kashmir issue.

"Our policy is to encourage dialogue aimed at narrowing differences and preventing violence, and we intend to remain actively engaged with both the countries toward this end," Albright said.

Albright's remarks came a day after she said President Clinton's visits to India was not a sign of absolute approval of New Delhi's policies and the US continues to have "very serious concerns about the issues of non-proliferation and about the dealings on occupied Kashmir.

Talking to newsmen during the presentation of budget requests for international affairs on Monday, she said the US had made "quite clear" that having a relationship with India was important but the US concerns continued to be serious.

She expressed the hope that "the Indian government understands and will continue to deal with those issues because they are essential."

She said: "The trip is one that will be important, but it is not just a sign that everything has been dealt with and that all the problems have been resolved. The president wants to make clear the kinds of issues that are out there that we have all been dealing with on non-proliferation."

When asked whether she would accompany the President on the tour, she said she liked to travel with the President, especially on very important missions, but "we'll have to see what everybody's schedule is at the time. APP