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CNN Live At Daybreak

Musharraf Running Late for Nepal Summit

Aired January 04, 2002 - 06:08   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: Staying in the region, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan will attend a summit of South Asian nations this weekend. But it's not certain if they are going to talk about their latest conflict. CNN's Michael Holmes is covering the summit in Kathmandu, Nepal and he just filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The much-awaited opening of this regional summit delayed 24 hours and the reason is because one of the major players, Pakistan's President General Pervez Musharraf was running a little late. He overnighted in China where he met with representatives of Pakistan's long time ally. He was meant to fly in this morning Nepal time. However when he went to take off, there was fog. His arrival time here was pushed back further and further and further, and eventually officials decided to put the whole thing off for 24 hours at least.

The summit will open tomorrow, but there is a significant development because of that, and that is that a retreat that was meant to take place about 30 kilometers from here is being called off too. It was meant to take place tomorrow. It can't now, and any chance of private, off-the-record talks between the Pakistan leader and the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee have been called off along with that retreat.

It was to be a private affair, no media, very few aids present, and it was hoped it would provide the opportunity for at least some talks. Now the foreign ministers of the two countries, there is still an outside chance that may be on the outskirts of this summit, they will meet and discuss the current crisis between their two countries. It's not at all certain, however. Both sides now saying the other side hasn't asked for talks. So there appears to be at least a willingness to have a conversation, perhaps. But nobody is willing to pick up the phone.

Meanwhile the summit itself, a crucial one for this region where a region of seven nations, which holds a fifth of the world's population. They've been looking forward to this summit, mainly because it will be discussing such crucial issues as poverty and exploitation of women and children. Big issues in this part of this country, and it's been overshadowed by what's going on between India and Pakistan.

Michael Holmes, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: All right. Michael Holmes in Nepal reporting there.

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