Terrorist training camps in Afghanistan threat to US: Inderfurth

ISLAMABAD (NNI): The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Karl Inderfurth has said presence of terrorist training camps is a serious threat for the United States and said President Clinton will raise the issue with Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf.

Voice of America quoted Inderfurth as saying in an interview that General Musharraf had announced to visit Afghanistan and the United States would listen to him (Musharraf) about the issue.

He said the United States is not only concerned over terrorist camps in Afghanistan but also concerned over growing opium production and abuse of women rights. He recalled that the recent meeting of the six-plus-two group expressed concern over production of opium and drug smuggling from Afghanistan.

Inderfurth also called for solution to long-running Afghan problem and expressed over concern over reports of preparation for war by the warring sides. He said Afghan issue could not be solved militarily and said Afghans could settle the crisis themselves.

The US Assistant Secretary of State said Washington supports UN efforts for solution of the Afghan problem. He hoped that Pakistan and Iran would play important role in solution to Afghan imbroglio.

Meanwhile, commenting on President Clintons visit Inderfurth told the BBC that now is the time that the United States should have close relations with India which it did not have in the past. He said that India and the United States are two big democracies and can work jointly.

Inderfurth said that President Clintons visit to India may pave the way for this purpose. He added that despite some differences, there is a chance of new beginning of relations between India and the United States. He said that we know that we have some differences remaining with India and the Indians know that very much themselves.

He added that they believe these differences could be discussed and a way found. We are preparing a base for the negotiations, which Washington apparently could not with India in the past and this is a new and very positive move.

President Clinton would also make a stopover for few hours in Pakistan. Inderfurth said that the Americans are concerned over Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India. We are clearly concerned about the tension in the region, we are clearly concerned about Kashmir which is a big tragedy for all the parties concerned.

That is why, the United States is interested to assist these sides through whatever constructive way it may possibly have and this is what President Clinton would do during his visit to the region, he said. But Clinton has said that he does not want to play a mediatory role in Kashmir issue if both India and Pakistan do not ask him.

When asked as to why President Clinton wants to meet military ruler of Pakistan, he said the President is going to Pakistan because he made the decision that it is in the US national interests. He said the President will hold talks with General Musharraf on the US concerns including democracy, terrorism and nuclear non-proliferation. "Similarly, what is important is to show to our old friend Pakistan that we are not showing back to Pakistan and are not preferring one country on another".