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CNN Live Today

Meeting Between Pakistan, India Leaders Uncertain

Aired June 03, 2002 - 14:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The international community is watching to see whether the leaders of India and Pakistan will meet. Right now it seems unlikely. Both Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bijari Vajpayee are in Kazakhstan for a regional security summit.

Despite efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring the two sides together, the Indian leader says he will not meet with Musharraf. Still, the Indian government sent a positive signal today to the rest of the world. The Indian defense ministry ruled out the use of nuclear weapons and said it does not expect any other country to use them either.

CNN's Mike Chinoy reports on a reassuring tone from New Delhi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Kashmir, no letup in the artillery exchanges between the forces of India and Pakistan. The violence, forcing more people from their homes along the line of control.

But as the two countries' leaders attend a regional security summit in Kazakstan, the first cautious signals from India that the crisis may be easing. A senior adviser to Prime Minister Atal Bijari Vajpayee, quoted as saying there is now evidence that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is beginning to make good on his pledge to curb infiltration by Islamic militants fighting to end Indian rule in Kashmir.

PREM SHANKAR JHA, SECURITY ANALYST: There is evidence. We keep close tabs on the infiltration rules. That kind of information and the sources from which we get it, they have apparently confirmed that the infiltrators are not coming.

CHINOY: Reinforcing this impression, while last week the Indian government flew journalists to Kashmir to cover the surrender of militants captured while trying to infiltrate from the Pakistan side, for the past few days there have been almost no such stories in the Indian press. Leading the prime minister's adviser to say that if the trend continues, New Delhi would be willing to discuss a mechanism for reducing tensions and building confidence.

But there is still much danger, especially fears that a new terrorist attack, like the one outside the Indian parliament last December, in which 12 people died, or last month's raid in Kashmir, which left more than 30 Indians dead, may force the government here to strike back at Pakistan.

K.K. KATYAL, NEWSPAPER EDITOR: Exposing this strike, it will become very difficult for the Indians, whatever may be the evidence, whatever may be the efficacy of the diplomatic moves, to respond positively.

CHINOY: But even here, signs of a change on the ground in Kashmir are generating signs of Indian flexibility. The prime minister's advisers saying that it will now be easier for New Delhi to distinguish between -- quote -- "the sincere actions of the Pakistani government and isolated acts by desperate terrorists seeking to scuttle these cautious moves back from the brink."

Mike Chinoy, CNN, New Delhi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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