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Clinton's Pak visit to serve US interests 'better'

C K Arora in Washington

The United States wants to have its communication channels open with both India and Pakistan to be able to defuse any conflict if and when it occurs in the region.

''We believe staying in contact with both sides and having communication channels with both sides could prove extremely important to our national interests in the future,'' state department spokesman James Rubin said yesterday.

Replying to questions about President Bill Clinton's decision to visit Pakistan at the end of his India-Bangladesh visit later this month, he said, ''The president is not going to the region to mediate on the Kashmir dispute. Our view is that if both sides want our assistance to that end, we would be prepared to play a role. They do not at this time.''

When asked to comment on an impression in India that by meeting with those who led the coup and who seized power, Clinton would be acknowledging that they were in charge and giving them some legitimacy, Rubin said, ''I think it is a de facto situation that they are in charge, and I think that whatever they might view it from India or anywhere else it's a fact.

''I think it is also our view that Pakistan, as a country, is a friend of the United States. It is also our view that the United States' ability to play a role last summer was welcomed by the Indian government and the Indian government saw it in their interest to have the kind of communication between the United States and the leader in Pakistan,'' he said.

He said, ''The question is not a simple question and the conclusion was that our national interests were better served by the president travelling than had he not travelled. And that doesn't mean, and I said this quite clearly, that we recognise or are giving legitimacy to General (Pervez) Musharaff.''

The spokesman said, ''We have made clear that we want to see progress towards democracy and that we will not have a business-as-usual relationship with Pakistan until they have taken those steps. So these calculations are never as simple as some try to make them. We made a comprehensive calculation about what was in our national interest, and this was the decision that was made.''

Rubin said, ''The president will clearly make known to the leadership (of Pakistan) directly our concerns on many subjects and that is what meetings are about at this time.''

UNI

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