The Hindu : India, Pakistan on the right path: Powell

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

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International - India & World

India, Pakistan on the right path: Powell

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 21. The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has said that his country hopes both India and Pakistan have ``now turned a corner'' and are ``moving towards lasting peace in the subcontinent.'' Washington, acting in partnership with others, has played a ``quiet, but important role in this reconciliation,'' he said while speaking at Princeton University in New Jersey on the challenges and opportunities of the U.S. foreign policy dealing with issues and regions of global importance.

Gen. Powell said 18 months ago there were ``grave concerns'' of a war between India and Pakistan and a conflict that could possibly go nuclear. ``But over the last 18 months we have seen all sides sobered by that possibility of war, and, instead, they are moving in the other direction... The Pakistani and Indian leaderships both have now decided to talk. We hope they have now turned a corner and are moving down the road towards lasting peace in the subcontinent.''

The success the United States has had with India and Pakistan had to do with the fact that Washington made it known to the South Asian nations that they are being treated as two separate countries.

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India, Pakistan on the right path: Powell