US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that he may appoint a special envoy to try to pull India and Pakistan away from confrontation by next week. Powell said that he would decide next week, after the SAARC summit meeting in Nepal in which he said he hoped Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would meet.
"We are anxious to see the situation stabilise," Powell said. "We hope the mobilizations halt quickly."
In fact, he said, "There are some positive signs." But, Powell said, "this is still a dangerous situation." Praising Musharraf for countering terror, Powell said, "Every day or so he has taken a step in that direction."
However, Powell added, "I expect him to do more." the outset of the Bush administration last January, Powell said he intended to reduce the number of special envoys and cut back on "layering" within the State Department.
While the appointment of a special envoy to India and Pakistan would enlarge the US role in their dispute Powell gave no indication he had a formula for a settlement over Kashmir. Powell said reversing the confrontation is the immediate US priority. However, he said, Kashmir ultimately "is going to be part of the dialogue" the Bush administration is encouraging India and Pakistan to begin.
Bureau Report