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'Fierce infighting'

preceded Clinton's

Pakistan visit, reports

New York Times

WASHINGTON: "Fierce infighting" within the administration preceded the final White House decision on Tuesday, that President Clinton would go to Pakistan, a report in the 'New York Time' said on Wednesday.

Clinton was said to have been "confident" that "he can personally engage" Gen. Pervez Musharraf. While it was the US government's assessment that no progress had been made by Islamabad on basic US concerns, it was felt that channels of communication with Pakistan should be kept open.

Earlier, Pakistan had made it clear to the administration that it was not willing to be a "whistle stop", but would expect to be treated in a manner commensurate with its national dignity, size, importance and stature in Asia and the Islamic world. While Clinton's stay in Pakistan is unlikely to last beyond part of a day with no overnight stay contemplated. It is understood that he would be hosted by the Chief Executive at a proper, formal meal. Talks between the two leaders are going to be short in duration but long in substance.

The visit was "hotly debated" within the administration, partly because of security concerns for Clinton's safety.

The report confirmed that Indian officials had "lobbied hard" that the visit to Pakistan should not go through as it would amount to conferring "legitimacy" on the Musharraf regime. The report described the South Asian trip as "one of the most significant policy initiatives" of Clinton's second term.

The 'Los Angeles Times' noted that the decision had marked the end of a "prolonged debate within the administration" and was "bound to alter the flavour and substance of what promises to be one of the more unusual, and potentially more important, overseas trips of the Clinton Presidency."

The report noted that India had reacted "coolly" to the news but had stopped short of criticising the move. An official at the Indian Embassy in Washington told the newspaper that the decision to add Pakistan to Clinton's itinerary was "clearly the President's choice. It's not for India to react. We're welcoming him to our country, and that's the main things."ÑAPP