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Rumsfeld Five-Nation Tour Wraps up in India
Aired November 05, 2001 - 05:06 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had a very busy weekend. He went on a four nation tour. His last stop, India.
Let's go ahead and check in with our Mike Chinoy, who's in New Delhi with the latest on the defense secretary's visit and what came of those meetings -- Mike, hello.
MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.
Well, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is now on his way back to the United States, having visited five countries in four days, all of those countries in Central and South Asia, critical players in the current crisis in Afghanistan. The defense secretary's purpose on this trip was to shore up U.S. alliances with these countries, to discuss the specific needs that each of these countries have for their own domestic political and security situations, to enlist additional support for the United States.
Winding up this trip here, the defense secretary said that the effectiveness of the U.S. air strikes is growing with each passing day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There is no question that the effectiveness of bombing is vastly improved as you have people on the ground in communication with the aircraft overhead. And each day that we have been engaged in this since October 7, we have been able to improve the effectiveness of it. We now have some larger number of teams of people on the ground that are assisting with resupply and humanitarian assistance as well as targeting, and the effectiveness of the bombing is improving every day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHINOY: One of the big concerns for the United States in this part of the world is the continuing conflict between India and its bitter rival, Pakistan, both of them now allies of the U.S. in the war on terror. The Indians accuse Pakistan of supporting Islamic militants fighting to end Indian rule in the disputed territory of Kashmir, and there's been a lot of concern here in India about the security of Pakistan's nuclear facilities should Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf be toppled because of his pro-American stance. That was a concern Defense Secretary Rumsfeld went out of his way to allay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUMSFELD: I do not personally believe that there is a risk with respect to the nuclear weapons of countries that have those weapons. I think those countries are careful and respectful of the dangers that they pose and manage their safe handling effectively.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHINOY: South Asian diplomacy now moves to the United States as Secretary Rumsfeld is on his way back. Within the next few days, India's prime minister is scheduled to be in Washington for meetings with President Bush, so, too, Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Mike, for a moment let's focus on the U.S.-Indian relationship. Are the Indians offering any kind of help militarily with the U.S. strikes on Afghanistan?
CHINOY: Well, India's geography means that it can't play a front line position because it's not immediately adjacent to Afghanistan. But interestingly, as the defense secretary arrived here, a U.S. naval ship was making a port call in the Indian port of Chinai for refueling and for a little bit of rest and recreation for the crew. The USS O'Brien has been on duty as part of this operation and that's one of the kinds of areas where India may be able to help out refueling, over flight rights, resupplies.
In addition, the two countries are discussing a much broader strategic relationship. That will be followed up by the visit within a few weeks by Admiral Dennis Blair, the head of the U.S. Pacific fleet, and the convening in early December of a defense policy study group to explore how these two nations who have been somewhat at odds over the past many years can work together to enhance military and strategic cooperation not just for this immediate crisis, but for the long-term.
KAGAN: Mike Chinoy in New Delhi. Mike, thank you.
In other news today, a storm of activity in the West Bank prompts some Israeli troop movements.
Much more than a storm, Hurricane Michelle heads for the Bahamas. The damage she left behind, that's just ahead.
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