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China advises Clinton not to skip Pakistan on his tour

BEIJING: China has reportedly advised the United States to include Pakistan in President Bill Clinton's rescheduled South Asian tour next month, Times of India reported.

Quoting diplomatic sources the paper said "China has reportedly told deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott that Clinton should visit Pakistan if the US wants to see an end to tension in South Asia."

The just-concluded two-day Sino-US strategic security consultations, ahead of Clinton's tour to Bangladesh and India, gave Beijing an opportunity to air its views on South Asia and co-ordinate stands on South Asian nuclear issue, said the Indian paper.

Talbott briefed the Chinese side on the 10 rounds of talks he had so far held with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on nuclear non-proliferation and security issues in the South Asian region. APP