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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.

Tuesday, January 18, 2000

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