Powell arrives in Pakistan

US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived in Pakistan today from India for talks with President Pervez Musharraf.

The talks are certain to focus on attacks by Islamic militants in the disputed Kashmir region shared by the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

In Pakistan, where support for the US-led coalition’s anti-terrorist war in neighbouring Afghanistan has enraged Islamic militants, Powell’s job is a delicate one.

In talks with Musharraf, Powell will be juggling Washington’s need for Pakistan’s support to capture fleeing al-Qaida and Taliban warriors with demands that cross-border attacks by Pakistan-based militants in Indian Kashmir come to an end.

Powell’s language will be closely monitored by both Musharraf’s supporters and his critics, most notably by Islamic insurgents, who have bitterly condemned his support for the US-led coalition, staged assaults on foreigners in Pakistan and plotted to assassinate him.

While in New Delhi, Powell was meeting Indian leaders who insist that infiltration has only marginally decreased since the United States relayed a promise from Pakistan’s leader to end the border crossings.

At a news conference in the Indian capital, Powell said: "I think there has been a reduction in infiltration levels (but) infiltration is continuing."

India accuses Pakistan of arming, funding, training and helping militants to cross the frontier to make attacks in Indian territory in a 12-year insurgency that has killed more than 60,000 people.

Pakistan has said it supports the guerrillas’ cause, but denies it provides material aid.

"It seems clear from the information I have that infiltration is continuing and I think we must make every effort to end it," he said, adding that "Musharraf has pledged he would end it, and end it on a permanent basis".

Powell arrived to a red carpet greeting at Pakistan’s military airport outside the federal capital of Islamabad.

His first round of meetings were to be with Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Inam-ul Haq before meeting with Musharraf.

Powell was to be in Pakistan for barely four hours before launching on a south-east Asian tour beginning in Bangkok.

Powell has made three visits to South Asia to try to ease tensions that have resulted in a massive deployment of troops by both Pakistan and India.

Escalating tensions have also generated world fears that a war in South Asia could result in the use of nuclear weapons, which both countries say they possess.

Both India and Pakistan conducted underground nuclear tests in 1998 and both say they have inducted nuclear weapons into their arsenals, but neither has specified the type or numbers of nuclear weapons.

Militants accuse Musharraf of betraying Kashmiri insurgents who have been fighting since 1989 to press their demand that a united Kashmir be either independent or joined with Islamic Pakistan.

They have threatened to topple Musharraf.

Yesterday a fourth person was arrested in Pakistan in connection with a plot to assassinate Musharraf in southern Karachi last April using an explosive-laden truck.

That same vehicle was later used in an attack against the US Consulate in Karachi that killed 14 people, all of them Pakistanis.

Pakistani authorities say al-Qaida was involved in the attacks.

While in New Delhi Powell urged negotiations between the two nuclear neighbours.

The leaders of India and Pakistan have not held talks in a year.

"We are looking to both India and Pakistan to take steps that begin to bring more peace to the region and ensure a better future for the Kashmiri people," Powell said.

Pakistan has agreed to talk to India without conditions, but New Delhi said it wants cross-border infiltrations to stop before opening negotiations.

Pakistan also says it wants India to agree Kashmir is a dispute, something India has so far refused.

Powell urged India to take steps that would convince Kashmiris that an election in its Jammu-Kashmir state this fall will be free and fair.

"We look forward to concrete steps by India to foster Kashmiri confidence in the election process. Permitting election observers and freeing political prisoners would be helpful," he said.