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Muhammad Najeeb in Islamabad
Pakistan claimed on Tuesday it had succeeded in putting Kashmir on top of the agenda in talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and the results of its efforts would be 'seen soon' after Powell's talks in New Delhi.
"Though his top agenda was air strikes (in Afghanistan)... we have succeeded in conveying the message and it was very well taken," a senior official said.
"From our point of view Kashmir was the top agenda and most of time was consumed in discussing Kashmir... we are sure he would take up this issue with the Indian leadership," the official said as Powell concluded three rounds of talks with President Pervez Musharraf after his arrival on late Monday.
Powell, in reply to a question at a press conference he jointly addressed with Musharraf, said the issue of Kashmir was 'central' to stability in South Asia. He called on Pakistan and India to resolve the Kashmir dispute through dialogue.
The official said Pakistan had made it a point to say it would like the US, and Powell personally, to become involved with negotiations between India and Pakistan, possibly under the United Nations umbrella, to 'resolve the conflict of Kashmir'.
Asked about the chances of immediate resumption of dialogue with India, the official said, "It cannot be ruled out. We would be happy if talks are held in the presence of any third party, maybe the UN or maybe any country..."
He said Powell 'agreed' that the Kashmir problem warranted immediate world attention and 'needs to be resolved without further delays'.
Powell assured Pakistan that it would 'help' in resolving the long-standing Kashmir issue and that it would not seek to impose any anti-Islamabad regime in Afghanistan.
The assurances came as Pakistani leaders reiterated their country's support for the US-led war against terrorism.
Powell was the senior most member of the Bush administration to visit Pakistan, which the US now considers a frontline state in its campaign against terror. Powell left for New Delhi at the conclusion of his talks here.
Powell held two detailed rounds of talks with Musharraf, the first late Monday and second Tuesday morning, before rounding off the visit with an informal round before his departure. He also met with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar.
The official said Powell assured Pakistan that the US would balance the interests of Pakistan in any future set up in post-Taleban Afghanistan.
Pakistan does not want the opposition Northern Alliance to play a major role in a new Afghan government. Nor does it want 'outside interference' in Afghanistan from countries like India.
"We want a broad-based government in Afghanistan," Musharraf said in a joint press conference with Powell.
Powell, in turn, said, "We are truly interested in a post-Taleban Afghanistan that represents all of the interests of the various factions and elements of Afghan society."
As talks continued in Islamabad, there were reports of widespread protests in different Pakistani cities against the US action in Afghanistan and the government's support for it. But there were no rallies in Islamabad or nearby Rawalpindi, where huge contingents of police and paramilitary troops ensured there were no protest demonstrations.
Unconfirmed reports said Powell also held a meeting with a representative delegation of deposed Afghan king Zahir Shah, though he denied any such meeting at the press conference.
Musharraf, while reiterating his support for the US campaign against terrorism, said the military action should be 'short and targeted'.
"One would like to say that certainly a majority of the people are against the operation in Afghanistan, they would like to see this operation to be terminated as fast as possible and that is what I would urge the coalition -- to achieve the military objectives and terminate the operation," he said.
Musharraf said he regretted that by not handing over Osama bin Laden, the authorities in Afghanistan had jeopardised the interests of their own people. He said he and Powell agreed that any future Afghan administration must be broad-based and would include members of the opposition and some members of the Taleban.
"Former king Zahir Shah, political leaders, moderate Taleban leaders, elements from the (opposition) Northern Alliance, tribal elders, Afghans living outside their country ... all can play a role in this government," Musharraf told a questioner.
Intense lobbying is on in Islamabad on the post-Taleban situation with reports of defections from both the Taleban and from the Northern Alliance reaching here. Each side claims there have been defections from the other.
Taleban deputy envoy to Pakistan Sohail Shaheen however said the Taleban are united and there have been no defections to any side.
"I assure you there is no rift or division or difference among us. In present situation, Afghans are united," Shaheen said.
Indo-Asian News Service
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