20000310

Clinton's visit to Pakistan

Indian media

advise govt to

stop worrying

NEW DELHI: With speculation now ended over President Bill Clinton's intentions of visiting Pakistan, India's media Thursday advised the government to drop the issue and concentrate on the president's visit here.

The White House announced on Tuesday that Clinton would visit Pakistan on March 25 after concluding his visit to India.

While India was apprehensive about the visit, there was a sense that it was time to move on to other issues arising from the US president's South Asia tour.

Several newspaper editorials criticised Indian government for lobbying so hard to prevent Clinton's visit to Islamabad, arguing that it had been a fruitless exercise which finally saw New Delhi shoot itself in the foot.

"The government turned on the diplomatic taps to score what it hoped would be a major victory," said the Asian Age.

"The hype generated had been of such a level, that now the decision by president Clinton to stop in Islamabad comes almost as a defeat for Delhi," the Asian Age said, adding that Pakistan would definitely use the visit as its victory.

"India should now turn its attention to strengthening bilateral relations with the US, and not continue with its short-sighted diplomatic manoeuvres that are having a negative impact on the world image of the nation," the Age concluded.

The Indian Express followed a similar theme, bemoaning the fact that the government had expended an "inordinate amount of energy" on the implications of a Clinton visit in Pakistan.

"This is unfortunate and self-defeating," the Indian Express said in an editorial.

Now that Clinton's visit to Pakistan has been confirmed, "it's time to banish the fanciful for the pragmatic."

"For all the talk of India lobbying otherwise, the Islamabad rendevous was inevitable."

The Times of India, agreed that there had never really been any doubt over whether the US president would go to Islamabad.

The Times said the US was forced by geo-political realities in the region.

"It is, therefore, no surprise that the US president does not dare displease Pakistan."ÑAFP