[Annakin]

The issue of Pakistani-supported terrorists infiltrating into and causing havoc in the Indian State of Kashmir (or Jammu & Kashmir, to give the State its full name) has been receiving a great deal of administration, congressional, academic and media attention in the United States in recent months.

In a no-nonsense interview to a local television channel in India, the American Ambassador Robert Blackwill has completely rejected Pakistan's claim of the Assembly elections in the state being a sham, saying, "I will tell what we think, and we do not think it is a sham." Echoing Washington's immediate reaction, he said that the first round of the polls had got off to a good start. (In Washington US state department spokesperson Richard Boucher applauded the "courage of the voters who have chosen to participate in the voting" despite the threats and the violence unleashed by the Pakistani infiltrators).

The Ambassador also confirmed the view expressed by New Delhi that cross-border infiltration from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir into the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir has gone up, instead of going down. He said: "infiltration is going on, and in our judgment it increased in August and September."

Musharraf "gave a commitment to the international community to permanently end infiltrations across the Line of Control" that divides Kashmir, Blackwill said. "We continue to expect him to live up to that."

He said that U.S. President George W. Bush had raised this issue again during his meeting with Musharraf on Sept. 12.

[Mitchell]

Ping.

[AM2000]

Musharraf is reneging on his promise to disassociate himself from the terrorists.

[operation clinton cleanup]

J-K polls a chance to establish peace: US

The United States on Monday said the coming Jammu and Kashmir assembly election was an opportunity for separatists to help establish peace in the state.

"We see an opportunity in the elections. It can be part of the larger process to establish peace," Lisa Curtis, a senior Asian affairs advisor to the Bush administration, said after meeting All-Party Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Omer Farooq in Srinagar.

Curtis said she held discussions with several separatist leaders, including Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat and acting Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Javid Ahmad Mir, and impressed upon them to avail the opportunity for establishing peace in the state.

Asked if she had any special message from Washington, Curtis said, "We came with the message that the US does care about Kashmir and Kashmiris. The problems have to be resolved peacefully."

"We don't have a magical solution. We urged them to see an opportunity in these elections," she said.

Asked about the purpose behind meeting Hurriyat constituents separately, an aide to Curtis from the US embassy in New Delhi, Sheetal Patel, said it was a normal practice.

"We meet them individually to know their viewpoints."

The Mirwaiz told reporters after a 90-minute meeting with Curtis: "The US does have an interest as far as Kashmir is concerned. We have certain suggestions for [US] envoys which they said they will consider."

He said that the Centre would have to clarify the status of elected representatives and give an assurance that it would hold talks with them to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"Whether Pakistan will be involved in the dialogue process has to be made clear," he said.

He said the Hurriyat wanted a political solution to the Kashmir issue and "we are ready for talks".

"We will meet tomorrow [Tuesday] to decide on Government of India's offer of talks," the Mirwaiz said.

On his talks with Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani, he said, "As responsible citizens of India, they feel they have duty towards Kashmiri people."

"We will take ten steps if they take one," he added.

Massive Lisa Curtis bump!

[ChadGore]

Musharraf has a huuuuuge problem. Religion of peace my A** !!

[varon]

"Infiltration is going on and in our judgment it increased in August and September," Ambassador Robert Blackwill told reporters................./snip/................... He said that U.S. President George W. Bush had raised this issue again during his meeting with Musharraf on Sept. 12. "This is a matter on which we are working very hard," Blackwill added.

Oh, how noble of Ambassador Blackwil and President Bush to be so greatly concerned about Pakistani infiltration of India.

My question to ambassador Blackwil and President Bush is when in the hell are you going to show as much concern about Mexico’s infiltration of The United States of America and the sanctity of our borders overall?

[aristeides]

Does this explain what happened at Gandhinagar today? Have the perps been identified as Moslems yet?

[RightWhale]

The high rate of infiltration was stopped for a couple of months to give India a chance to cool off during the monsoon and runup to elections. India cooled off, but they are still ready as ever to make a major military move. Now infiltration is increased again. India doesn't have a short attention span. This cannot go on forever.