ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE for Monday, June 3. Here now Lou Dobbs.
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR, LOU DOBBS MONEYLINE: Tonight, a million Pakistani and Indian troops face each other across their border. Their leaders are at a security summit in Central Asia. Lalit Mansingh, India`s ambassador to the United States, will be here to tell us India`s intentions.
For India`s view on whether this crisis will end in war or peace, I`m joined now in Washington by Ambassador Lalit Mansingh. He is India`s ambassador to the United States.
Mr. Ambassador, good to have you with us.
LALIT MANSINGH, INDIA`S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES: Thank you, Lou. Good to be on the show again.
DOBBS: Mr. Ambassador, is it, in your judgment, possible at this point that Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf can meet to reach some sort of resolution of this crisis?
MANSINGH: Well, that -- we made it clear that meeting is not going to achieve anything. We have made it clear to Pakistan that we can meet but only after they stop exporting terrorism to our country. So if they have to meet, Pakistan must stop cross-border terrorism.
DOBBS: Prime Minister Vajpayee has said that your forces should be prepared for a decisive fight, a decisive battle. Is there any indication that you have been able to determine on the part of the Pakistanis that would lead anyone toward the possible thought that this could not result in war?
MANSINGH: Well, we are hoping that war will not be necessary. We certainly don`t want war. As you know, after our parliament was attacked on the thirteenth of December, we have gone through a series of diplomatic measures, and we`re hoping that diplomacy will work. We hope that we will not be pushed towards a military option.
DOBBS: What is required here, in your judgment, Mr. Ambassador, to at least ease the tensions and to reduce the level of threat of war, first on the part of Pakistan?
MANSINGH: Well, four things are required.
One, an immediate stop to the incursions across the Line of Control into India.
Two, a dismantling the terrorist camps which have come up across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Three, a crackdown on the terrorist organizations within Pakistan, including choking the funds and support system.
And, four, we have given a list of 20 most wanted terrorists and criminals, and we would like Pakistan to send them back to India to face justice.
DOBBS: And have you put a time -- a deadline on when Pakistan must act in response to those...
MANSINGH: We -- you know, since diplomacy is working, we are not prescribing any deadlines. As you know, we are going to receive two very important visitors from the United States very soon, Deputy Secretary Armitage and Secretary Rumsfeld. So, obviously, we keep our hopes on that -- these efforts will succeed, so we`re not keeping any deadlines in mind.
DOBBS: And is there a role here, Mr. Ambassador, for the United States in mediating, attempting to mediate a resolution?
MANSINGH: Well, there is no scope of mediation, but what the United States is doing is the right thing, to send a very strong signal to Pakistan that terrorism must stop. You know, on Friday, President Bush, I think, spoke in the strongest language he has used so far in urging President Musharraf to stop the excursions across the Line of Control. He said these must stop. He has said that he would stop them, and he must now keep his word.
I think these two high-level emissaries are going to reinforce the message and make Pakistan -- persuade Pakistan to stop cross- border terrorism.
DOBBS: Mr. Ambassador, Lalit Mansingh, thank you very much for being with us.
MANSINGH: Thank you, Lou.
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