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American Morning

Armitage Says Glimmer of Hope for Kashmir Conflict

Aired June 06, 2002 - 07:10   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Heavy shelling continues this morning in the disputed Kashmir region. Two Indian soldiers were killed overnight, but Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says just a short time ago, there is a glimmer of hope. Armitage met with Pakistani President Musharraf earlier this morning, and tomorrow meets with India's prime minister.

Joining us now by videophone from Islamabad, CNN's Tom Mintier.

Good morning, Tom.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. It was indeed a very busy day for the Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. He had three meetings, and two of them went into overtime.

This is the beginning of a tag team match, if you will, of diplomacy. First, the deputy secretary of state comes to the region, next week followed by the secretary of defense. Now, in the first meetings today -- we are at the foreign ministry -- first with his counterpart, then with the foreign minister, and then in one hour and 45 minutes, with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

Now, in that meeting, Mr. Armitage received assurances of the Pakistani president that he was not interested in war, would not start it and wanted to find a peaceful resolution to the problem, to de- escalate the tension. He also said that he gave assurances to the deputy secretary of state that there was no cross-border infiltration going on into Kashmir from the Pakistani side.

They also discussed President Bush's telephone call that came in the middle of the night here, a telephone call that was also repeated with the Indian prime minister. Details of the discussions, though, were not really provided by the assistant -- the deputy secretary of state. He was very careful not to disclose the content, saying that he was traveling on to New Delhi tomorrow and hopefully the discussions will continue -- Paula.

ZAHN: Tom Mintier, thanks so much. Appreciate that late report.

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