Congressional delegation paves way for Clinton visit to Pakistan
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, January 18, 2000
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan and the United States are discussing the
prospect of a visit by President Bill Clinton in an effort to improve
relations nearly two years after Islamabad conducted nuclear tests.
U.S. ties with India, which also conducted nuclear test two years ago, have improved and the president is expected to visit India in the near future. But the military takeover of the government in Pakistan has strained ties with Washington despite the two nations' strategic ties especially during the Soviet war on Afghanistan.
The two countries begin their dialogue on Thursday when a four-member
congressional delegation arrives in Islambad and discusses regional and
bilateral issues.
U.S. diplomats said the delegation will discuss U.S. concerns regarding
Pakistani democracy. The visitors include Senator Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican, regarded as
the leading expert on south Asia in the U.S. Senate. He is also regarded as
a supporter of Islamabad.
The delegation will hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar and
General Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf seized power last year.
Officials said the current visit marked the first high-level
negotiations July 1998 when U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott
held talks in Islamabad on security-related issues. The officials said
Pakistani leaders will discuss relations with India, Afghanistan, weapons
proliferation, terrorism and counterterrorism.
This will include Pakistan's objection to signing the Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty, a treaty rejected by the Republican-dominated U.S. Senate. The
senators are not expected to press the issue.
Pakistani officials said Washington wants to see India and Pakistan
agree in principle to sign the CTBT before the Clinton administration
launches a reconciliation effort. At that point, they said, Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright will plan to visit the region to prepare for a
Clinton tour.