Delhi makes displeasure felt: Powell- PM meet kept in doubt

The decision to hold back an appointment with the PM is intended to send a signal to Washington that the Government does not see any forward movement on the assurances given by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on the infiltration issue.

In other words, until there is evidence on the ground that the US has delivered on these assurances, there is little point in the PM meeting the interlocutors.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw also did not get an appointment with Vajpayee when he was here last week. Ironically, there was an immediate fallout in Pakistan with Straw failing to meet President Pervez Musharraf too.

Official sources said the Government took the view that till there is visible change in the situation, the PM should keep out of talks with visiting US and UK leaders.

Whatever India had to say could be conveyed adequately by their counterparts and the Dy PM. As far as Powell is concerned, the Govt will take a final view about a call on the PM closer to his arrival. Much depends on the signals Delhi gets from Washington in the next 48 hours. On Powell’s previous two visits, his call on the PM was fixed several days in advance along with the rest of his appointments.

So far, there is nothing to suggest that the Powell visit is one India can look forward to. Today, India’s Ambassador to US Lalit Mansingh held intensive briefings with the MEA and PMO on the message Powell will be bringing. It seems Powell is coming to renew the pressure to de-escalate.

Washington’s reading is that although Pakistan may not have fully kept its promises to permanently end infiltration and close down the terrorist training camps on its soil, there has been a significant decline in infiltration across the border. US feels that India should respond adequately by taking some steps towards de-escalation.

This will give Musharraf manouvering room with the Pakistani establishment to intensify his crackdown on the camps and terrorist activities in J-K.

The Govt’s perception is of course completely different. While there was some decline in infiltration levels early last month, official figures show a marked increase in recent weeks. Official claims are that the level for this year is higher than for last year in the same period. The Govt has made no secret of its unhappiness with what it perceives to be ‘‘failure of US and UK’’ to get Pakistan to live up to its promises. The leadership conveyed India’s annoyance to Straw and will convey it to Powell as well.