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American Morning

Despite Conciliatory Moves, More Killed on Pakistan-Indian Border

Aired June 11, 2002 - 07:05   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: India is taking another step back from the brink of war with Pakistan, moving some warships away from the waters off the southern coast of Pakistan, and the foreign ministry in Islamabad calling again for a dialogue between the two nuclear powers.

Our bureau chief in New Delhi, Satinder Bindra, joins us live with an update from there -- Satinder, hello.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Bill, and good morning to you. All of this is happening as the U.S. defense secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, is scheduled to visit Delhi. He will have meetings here and then go on to Pakistan.

Now, he is coming here when the threat of looming war between India and Pakistan has receded somewhat. A few days ago, Bill, Pakistan made a massive conciliatory gesture, saying it was willing to put a -- quote -- "permanent end to the infiltration of militants from Pakistan into India."

Now, as you mentioned, Bill, India has announced conciliatory gestures of its own. India says it will be pulling back its navy from coastal waters with Pakistan in towards the India coastal city of Mumbai. India also says it's opening its air space to Pakistani planes, and New Delhi has also just said it selected a new high commissioner or ambassador for Pakistan.

Despite all of these measures, Bill, both India and Pakistan have more than a million troops deployed along their borders, and cross- border firing continues. In the past 24 hours, some seven people on both sides have been killed, and in such an atmosphere, the United States says it will continue to engage both of these nuclear neighbors -- Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Satinder, thank you -- Satinder Bindra, our Delhi bureau chief in India.

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