US involvement essential: Nawaz Sharif
NEW YORK, July 6: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said here on Monday that President Clinton had assured him that he would take
personal interest in helping to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Sharif said Mr Clinton had told him that in the next 18 months of his term he would work resolutely to find a solution to the festering dispute which threatens peace in the region.
The prime minister who reaffirmed the statement at a meeting of PML workers in New York before his departure for London,
declared that whether India liked it or not the Kashmir dispute had been internationalized. "The American involvement was essential," he remarked. He referred to the resolution of the Kosovo conflict and the Middle East peace process in which the US
had played a crucial role.
Describing his meeting with President Clinton as "very successful", he said: "We hope that America will play its role to bring about a
settlement of the Kashmir issue."
Mr Sharif's remarks as well as those of the foreign office officials accompanying him were in contrast to reports in the American
media about the hastily arranged visit and its outcome.
The New York Times in its report on Monday said the US officials were "baffled as to why Mr Sharif had asked for a rush appointment with Mr Clinton." It said Mr Sharif's desire to come to Washington was probably driven in large part to get political cover from Mr Clinton for the hard job of persuading his 'military' to withdraw."
Questioning the extent of Mr Sharif's clout with the Mujahideen, the Times said: "Pakistani government's insistence that it does not control the fighters will make it politically difficult for Mr Sharif to live up to the pledge that he appeared to have made to the (Clinton) administration..."
Responding to these and other reports in the media, the foreign office officials insisted that the conclusions of the American media
were misplaced. "There is a negative perception being created here which is contrary to the facts as we understand our position has been vindicated."
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed told Dawn that only President Clinton and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif knew about the unscheduled July 4th meeting. Even the closest confidants of Mr Sharif were not aware of such a meeting until the last
minute.
This was later confirmed by Mr Sharif himself while talking to Dawn briefly at the Sony Centre. He dismissed claims by many well-
connected Pakistani-Americans here who have been making claims about having been instrumental in arranging the meeting. Mr
Sharif declared: "No one had any idea. Only Mr Clinton and I knew about it."
He said one of the reasons for the haste in coming to the US was his fear that India was getting ready to launch a full-scale military
operation against Pakistan.
The prime minister said: "You see President Clinton and I had been in constant touch over the situation in Kargil and we exchanged
ideas and at one point I suggested that I could come to Washington to talk to him about new ideas to defuse the situation."
He said Mr Clinton told him: "I think it's a good idea. Let me call you back in fifteen minutes to confirm this."
Suggesting that perhaps President Clinton had to alter his July 4th appointments and consult senior aides, Mr Sharif said: "Sure
enough he called me back in fifteen minutes asking me to come to Washington immediately.'
"After this conversation I informed my cabinet ministers and foreign office officials and fortunately a PIA flight was leaving for New York from Islamabad late that night. So we hurriedly took it."
MEETING BLAIR: Mr Sharif who left New York on Monday night for London may meet with his British counterpart Tony Blair, during his 24-hour stay, informed sources told Dawn.
They said Mr Sharif had requested a meeting with the British premier, but any such meeting was not confirmed till late night.
A foreign office official responded when asked whether such a meeting would take place, saying: "Anything is possible."
dil..dilseee
NEW YORK, July 6: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said here on Monday that President Clinton had assured him that he would take
personal interest in helping to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Sharif said Mr Clinton had told him that in the next 18 months of his term he would work resolutely to find a solution to the festering dispute which threatens peace in the region.
The prime minister who reaffirmed the statement at a meeting of PML workers in New York before his departure for London,
declared that whether India liked it or not the Kashmir dispute had been internationalized. "The American involvement was essential," he remarked. He referred to the resolution of the Kosovo conflict and the Middle East peace process in which the US
had played a crucial role.
Describing his meeting with President Clinton as "very successful", he said: "We hope that America will play its role to bring about a
settlement of the Kashmir issue."
Mr Sharif's remarks as well as those of the foreign office officials accompanying him were in contrast to reports in the American
media about the hastily arranged visit and its outcome.
The New York Times in its report on Monday said the US officials were "baffled as to why Mr Sharif had asked for a rush appointment with Mr Clinton." It said Mr Sharif's desire to come to Washington was probably driven in large part to get political cover from Mr Clinton for the hard job of persuading his 'military' to withdraw."
Questioning the extent of Mr Sharif's clout with the Mujahideen, the Times said: "Pakistani government's insistence that it does not control the fighters will make it politically difficult for Mr Sharif to live up to the pledge that he appeared to have made to the (Clinton) administration..."
Responding to these and other reports in the media, the foreign office officials insisted that the conclusions of the American media
were misplaced. "There is a negative perception being created here which is contrary to the facts as we understand our position has been vindicated."
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed told Dawn that only President Clinton and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif knew about the unscheduled July 4th meeting. Even the closest confidants of Mr Sharif were not aware of such a meeting until the last
minute.
This was later confirmed by Mr Sharif himself while talking to Dawn briefly at the Sony Centre. He dismissed claims by many well-
connected Pakistani-Americans here who have been making claims about having been instrumental in arranging the meeting. Mr
Sharif declared: "No one had any idea. Only Mr Clinton and I knew about it."
He said one of the reasons for the haste in coming to the US was his fear that India was getting ready to launch a full-scale military
operation against Pakistan.
The prime minister said: "You see President Clinton and I had been in constant touch over the situation in Kargil and we exchanged
ideas and at one point I suggested that I could come to Washington to talk to him about new ideas to defuse the situation."
He said Mr Clinton told him: "I think it's a good idea. Let me call you back in fifteen minutes to confirm this."
Suggesting that perhaps President Clinton had to alter his July 4th appointments and consult senior aides, Mr Sharif said: "Sure
enough he called me back in fifteen minutes asking me to come to Washington immediately.'
"After this conversation I informed my cabinet ministers and foreign office officials and fortunately a PIA flight was leaving for New York from Islamabad late that night. So we hurriedly took it."
MEETING BLAIR: Mr Sharif who left New York on Monday night for London may meet with his British counterpart Tony Blair, during his 24-hour stay, informed sources told Dawn.
They said Mr Sharif had requested a meeting with the British premier, but any such meeting was not confirmed till late night.
A foreign office official responded when asked whether such a meeting would take place, saying: "Anything is possible."
dil..dilseee
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