U.S. to nudge India, Pakistan towards conciliation: Powell  

-- Washington

The United States does not want to be a "mediator" in the dispute between
India and Pakistan but would rather use its improved relations with both
sides into a "triangle of conflict resolution," according to U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The U.S. would prefer to capitalise on the trust Washington has built
between New Delhi and Islamabad to nudge both sides towards conciliation
in a peaceful manner, Powell said in an article titled 'U.S. Strategy for
Partnerships' in the January/February 2004 issue of 'Foreign Affairs'
magazine.

"We do not impose ourselves as a mediator. But we do try to use the trust
we have established with both sides to urge them toward conciliation by
peaceful means," he said.

Referring to bilateral ties with India, Powell said the U.S. has worked
to deepen its relationship with India for various reasons.

"The two largest democracies on earth are no longer estranged. At the
same time, we have also been able to advance our relations with Pakistan
-- a country with domestic challenges of its own," he wrote.

Powell described India as "one of the world's venerable cultures," but
one facing many challenges.

"With recent economic reforms setting institutional roots, India is
developing into a mature market economy" Powell said, adding that what
the U.S. has done in South Asia is an example of "turning adversity into
opportunity," to quote President Bush.

He said although the U.S. works with every nation, for practical
purposes, "we concentrate on relations with major powers, especially
those with whom we have had difficult relationships in the past, notably
Russia, India and China."