The Hindu : U.S. Congress team meets Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

National

National

U.S. Congress team meets Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 17. A United States congressional delegation and the U.S. Ambassador, Robert Blackwill, met the Deputy Prime Minister, L. K. Advani, here today. During the hour-long meeting, the continuing cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and other issues related to the so-called global war against terrorism were discussed.

Mr. Blackwill had also met Mr. Advani yesterday morning; in fact, he is a frequent visitor to North Block. More recently, especially after the adoption of a resolution on Iraq by Parliament and the Government's hardening of stance on the U.S.-led war against Iraq, the two sides — India and the U.S. — are engaged in an exercise to control the perceived damage to their bilateral equations.

The congressional delegation which met Mr. Advani today was led by the co-chairman of the congressional caucus on India, Joseph Crowley, and included other members of the caucus.

Later, Mr. Blackwill told reporters that the Iraq situation did not figure in the talks, but the important role of the Indian caucus in India-U.S. ties did come up.

Of special concern to India was the perception that the world's focus on the Iraq war was being used by Pakistan to step up cross-border terrorism in Kashmir. The recent killing of Kashmiri Pandits in Nadimarg is said to have been mentioned at the meeting.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National