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Clinton can help

initiate Pak-India

talks: Sattar

KARACHI: Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, has said Pakistan hopes that in the light of concern expressed by the President Bill Clinton, he will play an important role in promoting purposeful dialogue between Pakistan and India during his visit to South Asia.

Speaking to editors of national newspapers and senior journalists at a briefing held at the Governor House on Monday, the foreign minister spoke about Pakistan's foreign policy as well as its stance taken on various issues of international importance with special reference to the visit of President Bill Clinton to Pakistan.

President Bill Clinton, he observed, has been unique in his power of persuasion. It is our perception that in the light of his recent statement on Kashmir, it is hoped that he would definitely make an attempt to remove the present stalemate between India and Pakistan.

Sattar said Clinton has played an important role in awakening the Western world about the plight of Bosnian people and pursuing the Israel for vacating Arab occupied land and can play the same role on Kashmir issue.

President Clinton has realised the explosive nature of Kashmir and he is expected to play his role in defusing tension between Pakistan and India.

He said Clinton may also help Pakistan in rescheduling its loan as US has a key role in the decision making of international financial institutions.

During his visit to Pakistan, he said, the Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf will apprise the US President about his government vision on the reconstruction of democracy in Pakistan.

About terrorism, the foreign minister said that Pakistan is against all forms of terrorism.

"We are the only country which extradited a terrorist to the US."

About Osama Bin Laden, Abdul Sattar said the US people have now started realising that Osama is no more active in terrorism. The US people too have realised our limitations on this issue.

Speaking about the process of accountability, the foreign minister said it is indispensable before electing future leadership.

Referring to recent statement of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the foreign minister said he is fueling hostility. In occupied Kashmir, they are following pro-active policy while at LoC, they have adopted policy of provocation.

He said that despite hue and cry of Indian government on hijacking of Indian aircraft from Nepal, President Clinton was the only world leader which absolved Pakistan from the charges.

Sattar, while discussing Pakistan's relations with the world community, said that China has always been Pakistan's trusted friend whereas relations with Iran are improving.

He pointed out that when the government assumed power, Pakistan was at the lowest ebb with government facing challenges both at home and at international levels.

He said that Clinton will be the first foreign leader to visit Pakistan. He referred to General Pervez Musharraf's working visits to many countries and said these had produced positive results.

He said Pakistan received positive response from Iran and our economic relations with Iran have started showing results. The trend in the relationship between the two countries has started turning from negative to positive, he added.ÑAPP