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George Fernandes meets Condoleezza Rice

T V Parasuram in Washington

Carrying forward India's diplomatic offensive against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and boost bilateral military cooperation, Defence Minister George Fernandes on Thursday began talks with United States National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice at the White House.

President George W Bush is not scheduled to drop by at the meeting, but he has been very actively monitoring the developments on India and Pakistan, presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

"It is a very sensitive region of the world. Obviously, there is tension on the border and any time you are talking about tension between two nuclear armed states, it is a matter of concern and, therefore, the president has sent Secretary of State Colin Powell to help India and Pakistan to reduce the tension," Fleischer said.

"British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been a very helpful part of that. The world shares the concern that tensions be reduced," he added.

Fleischer said Bush called Blair on Thursday and discussed war and terrorism. He also spoke about recent developments in South Asia and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's address to the nation last week.

Fernandes, who arrived on Thursday on a five-day visit to the US, is scheduled to meet Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and acting Secretary of State Richard Armitage and other senior officials of Bush administration.

Fernandes' visit assumes great significance in the light of US efforts to prevent India-Pakistan standoff from erupting into a full-scale war.

Fernandes is expected to make it clear to the US that India's trust in Musharraf is zero and that it will judge his commitment, under US pressure, to give up terrorism in Kashmir not by his words, but by his actions.

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