Bill gets his way as Inder agrees to discuss disarmament

Of three bilateral meetings scheduled during a one-day stay in New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly on September 22, President Clinton had personal meetings with two South Asian leaders -- "a clear statement by the president of greater US involvement with the region," senior US officials said.

Clinton, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and other top US officials met during Monday with Pakistan Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharief and Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral.

Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl Inderfurth said that Sharief invited Clinton to visit Pakistan and the president accepted. The date will be determined later. Clinton is also planning a visit to India next year. In the meantime Albright, Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Pickering, Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and other top US officials will visit the region over the next several months.

Of the meeting with Sharief, "the two leaders clearly are on the same wavelength" in wanting to see the tensions of the past ended and a future that is different from the past, Inderfurth said.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included strengthening democracy in Pakistan and respect for human rights, the economic and economic reform, US-Pakistani co-operation to combat terrorism and narcotics trafficking, Inderfurth said.

Clinton also urged Sharief "to see the Chemical Weapons Convention ratified," he said. The issue of the nuclear test ban treaty did not come up.

"The President said that he wants to deepen our relationship, that we should be partners for the right reasons. And this message was very well received by Prime Minister Sharief," the assistant secretary said.

On the issue of Kashmir, Clinton "made it very clear that although the US will not be a mediator in this dispute... the US will certainly be involved if both parties want us to," Inderfurth said.

But the United State "wants to be supportive of a process that is indeed looking to the future," he said.

Inderfurth characterised the meeting with Gujral as "a cordial, warm, thoughtful" discussion on bilateral issues that lasted more than 30 minutes.

Clinton met Gujral at a reception on September 21 and then held the longer, private discussion with him and top US officials September 22.

As with the Pakistani leader, Clinton focused on a "future different from the past" in his meeting with Gujral, the assistant secretary said.

Clinton also discussed his visit to India next year which will be the first visit by an American president in 20 years -- President Jimmy Carter was there in 1978.

First Lady Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton visited India in 1995 and enjoyed their visit and the warm hospitality of the Indian people, the president told Gujral.

"The president said there is a great feeling in our country for India. There is a sense we have let too many opportunities go by and that he very much wants to deepen our relations," Inderfurth said.

The discussion ranged across a wide variety of issues including economic. The United States is the largest investor in India as well as India's largest trading partner. Both leaders want to see that continued and strengthened, he said.

Clinton also told the Pakistani leader that the United States "is very careful not to interfere in any way with the issues... The US very much supports the India-Pakistani dialogue that is under way."

Clinton also said that India and the US "need to have greater co-operation on disarmament issues" and discussed whether or not India and the US would be able to agree on the nuclear test ban treaty.

"Most importantly, -- this is why I said it was a cordial and productive meeting -- the prime minister said at the end that he would be pleased to engage in a discussion" on disarmament issues, Inderfurth said. "Which is precisely what we had hoped would be the outcome."