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US to spell out sanctions this week

The Clinton administration will announce this week the ''full scope'' and the method of implementation of the economic sanctions that the United States had imposed on India and Pakistan following the nuclear tests.

Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth said, ''These sanctions will hurt'' and ''will remain in place for a very long time unless there are concrete steps taken by both countries.''

The US non-proliferation law envisages sanctions on countries that conduct nuclear tests including a cut-off of financial aid and credits to American companies that do business in those countries.

It also enjoins upon Washington to oppose the disbursement of loans from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to India and Pakistan.

''Over one billion dollars in World Bank loans earmarked for India's energy industry have already been halted,'' Inderfurth added.

He said Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had ''a good meeting'' with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh on May 12, and that the US was hoping to have similar in depth discussions with the Pakistan soon.

President Clinton, he said, would like to visit South Asia in the fall, as had been planned, but that the administration would have to evaluate how much progress Pakistan and India have made before deciding.

UNI