Pak rejects Clinton8217;s tough talk

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 26: Pakistanis today reacted with sharp criticism to US President Bill Clinton's tough talk during his brief stopover her...

ISLAMABAD, MARCH 26: Pakistanis today reacted with sharp criticism to US President Bill Clinton8217;s tough talk during his brief stopover here yesterday with editorial comments pointing out that he had found little right with Pakistan, in sharp contrast to the outcome of his visit to India.

While Pakistani officials were trying to put a positive spin to the Clinton stopover, the general disappointment and criticism was reflected in the media comments with leading newspaper Dawn pointing out that quot;repeated assertions by the White House spokesman that it was not a state visit but a working visit, and the brutally straightforward tone of the US President8217;s address are indicators of the real state of Washington-Islamabad relationshipquot;.

A top Pakistani official said, quot;The President8217;s visit signals some balance in its South Asia policy. We had a very constructive engagement as the entire gamut of relations was discussed.quot;

A senior US official said Clinton made it clear that there was no role for the US mediation in Kashmir and that quot;the road forward requires restraint, respect of the Line of Control, efforts to ensure an end to violence and a return to dialogue as soon as possiblequot;.

quot;Pakistan8217;s drift, its unstable democracy, extremism and violence, arms build up and eating away of scarce resources 8211; President Clinton found little right with Pakistan today,quot; media reports here said.

quot;No agreements were signed. No sanctions were lifted. No investment was committed,quot; the reports said.

However, it was different in India with two billion dollar worth of accords signed, structured talks on non-proliferation, terrorism, clear hints of lifting of the remaining sanctions and quot;an elephant load of kudosquot;.

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Clinton8217;s visit has summed up the emerging US outlook that Washington does not see India and Pakistan quot;as two peas in a pod to be treated equallyquot;, according to the reports.

quot;American policy makers are no longer hung up on the principle of even handedness. Earlier, they had taken pains in maintaining a balance in their interaction with New Delhi and Islamabad.

After Clinton8217;s South Asian trip, quot;Pakistan and India will fall in different policy categories,quot; the reports said.

It would have been simpler if Clinton had been hectoring or patronizing. His arguments then could have been drowned in an outpouring of outrage.

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quot;But, perhaps, to our chagrin, his speech leaves little scope for mounting the high horse of injured Pakistani patriotism because he was guilty of neither of these solecisms and, if anything, came across as a deeply concerned well-wisher of Pakistan,quot; the Dawn said.

It can safely be assumed that official spokesmen will be putting the best possible spin on the US President8217;s words and extracting from them what comfort they can.