Amid heightened Indo-Pak rhetoric, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today called up US Secretary of State Colin Powell and had a half-an-hour candid exchange on Pak-sponsored terrorism in J-K as well as the reconstruction efforts in post-war Iraq.The half-an-hour conversation comes at a time when Sinha has been equating Pakistan with Iraq on counts of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. He has been saying that Pakistan, like Iraq, was ‘‘fittest’’ case for pre-emptive strikes. Powell, on his part, has maintained that no parallels can be drawn between Iraq and Pakistan.According to MEA sources, the two leaders reviewed the current situation in the subcontinent including continuing incidents of cross-border terrorism. They also discussed the situation in Iraq, including the steps being taken to arrange a future set-up there. The day also saw US Ambassador Robert Blackwill calling on Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to discuss the post-war reconstruction efforts in Iraq. During his 45-minute interaction, Blackwill reportedly apprised Advani with the US efforts to set up an interim administration in Baghdad with the help of those opposed to Saddam Hussein and his Ba’ath Party.The Sinha-Powell exchange today, however, is significant given the disquiet in New Delhi and Washington after the External Affairs Minister’s statements. While Sinha is concerned that the US is not pressuring Pakistan enough to stop cross-border terrorism, Washington has been worried of the rise in Indo-Pak temperature over terrorism.Though New Delhi does not want the US to view India in just the context of its conflict with Pakistan, the rise in infiltration and another Nadimarg-type incident could worsen the situation in the subcontinent. There has been a growing feeling in New Delhi that Washington has not been doing enough to ensure some forward movement from Pakistan to stick to its commitment to permanently end cross-border terrorism.While South Block is tightlipped about the conversation, it is apparent that Sinha voiced concern over the ‘‘irresponsible’’ statements emanating from Islamabad. Pak Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri has been sending out warnings of a massive retaliation to any pre-emptive strike by India.The reaction was to Sinha’s earlier interview to a news agency where he said if the same standards as applied by US in Iraq were to be used, then Pakistan stood out as the ‘‘fittest’’ case for pre-emptive action given that it has weapons of mass destruction and has been actively supporting terrorist activities in India.However, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee cleared the air in Gangtok on Monday stating that India is keen on maintaining good neighbourly ties with Pakistan and is prepared to discuss all outstanding issues but the onus lies on Islamabad to first put an end to cross-border terrorism.National Security Advisor and India’s Chief Interlocutor with the US Brajesh Mishra will now have to address these issues during his visit to Washington tentatively scheduled for May 6-7. He is slated to meet his counterpart Condoleezza Rice and other State Department officials. Deputy PM L.K. Advani will also be visiting the US in June to take stock of Indo-US relations.
