ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


WorldView

While Clinton Meets With India's Prime Minister, Tensions Deepen Between Pakistan and India

Aired September 15, 2000 - 6:05 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: The leaders of the world's two largest democracies, India and the United States, met in Washington Friday.

CNN's Kelly Wallace has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. President Clinton welcomed a frail-looking Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee, the arrival ceremony cut short and a news conference canceled because of Mr. Vajpayee's upcoming knee surgery. Both leaders hailed a new direction for relations after years of Cold War tensions.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think we have worked hard together to move our relationship from one of too little contact and too much suspicion to one of genuine efforts to build a long-term partnership.

WALLACE: The warming trend began, according to the prime minister, with Mr. Clinton's historic trip to the world's largest democracy in March, the first by a U.S. leader in 22 years.

ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER: With your visit to India, a beginning has already been made.

WALLACE: U.S. officials cited progress in reducing nuclear tensions. India and Pakistan stunned the world when they each conducted nuclear tests in 1998. The Clinton administration says India has committed to hold back from future tests until the comprehensive test-ban treaty goes into effect.

RICK INDERFURTH, U.S. ASST. SEC. OF STATE FOR SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS: This will be the first time we have spelled out in a statement with the Indian government its intention to continue its voluntary moratorium on nuclear tests.

WALLACE: Not much headway reported on defusing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Himalayan territory of Kashmir: the U.S. still urging India to renew its dialogue with Pakistan.

STEPHEN COHEN, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I don't think they are quite ready for this. But hopefully, by the -- by the time of a new administration in the United States, they will have made up their mind to resume a dialogue with Pakistan.

WALLACE (on camera): To start building ties with the next administration, Prime Minister Vajpayee spoke with both presidential candidates, and Mr. Clinton told him he hoped to leave the relationship in the best possible shape so that his successor can -- quote -- "pick up the ball and run with it."

Kelly Wallace, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: As Kelly suggested, there are deepening tensions between nuclear neighbors, India and Pakistan.

CNN's New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A step-up in mortar fire along the line of control that divides the disputed territory of Kashmir, between India and Pakistan, has recently killed dozens on both sides. Several homes have suffered direct hits, forcing hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis to flee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our homes get damaged. Our crops get destroyed. There is shelling all the time. We have no place to hide from the shells.

BINDRA: In another sign of the deepening mistrust between the nuclear foes, Pakistani General Pervez Musharraf, who toppled his country's elected government in a coup last year, has been lashing out against India. In a speech during the U.N.'s recently concluded Millennium Summit, General Musharraf accused India of suppressing the rights of Muslims on its side of Kashmir.

Responding to General Musharraf, India's prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was uncharacteristically blunt.

VAJPAYEE (through translator): Many statesman-like words have been delivered from this high tribune. Unfortunately, some of them are an Orwellian mockery. The world must see the reality as it is. The acid test of sincerity of purpose is not words, but deeds.

BINDRA: For months, the United States has been urging both sides to show restraint and start talking. India refuses to talk to Pakistan, blaming it for backing Islamic militants who say they're fighting a holy war for independence in Indian Kashmir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no trust at all. And it is going to take a little while, probably a long while, before they get shaking hands again.

BINDRA: In the past several weeks, India says Pakistani-backed militants have slaughtered hundreds of troops and civilians on its side of Kashmir. During his speeches in the U.S. so far, Mr. Vajpayee has been pushing U.S lawmakers to rein in Pakistan. (on camera): Mr. Vajpayee's tough talk against Pakistan is getting widespread support in the Indian media. Here, there's no interest in General Musharraf's offer of a no-war pact with India, and some political parties are even calling for retaliatory action against Pakistan.

Satinder Bindra, CNN, New Delhi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.