Powell's wit charms fourth estate
Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
United States Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday displayed wit and humour during his joint press conference along with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.
When an American journalist mistakenly addressed Singh as 'Mr prime minister', Powell was quick to shake the external affairs minister's hand, congratulating him for 'becoming the prime minister'.
Singh quickly reminded the American lady journalist that he was the external affairs minister, but Powell's humour elicited loud guffaws among the reporters.
When a reporter directed a question to the US secretary of state on why Pakistan was included in the global fight against terrorism, when Islamabad itself was encouraging cross-border terrorism in Kashmir, Powell quickly pointed in Singh's direction that he should answer the question, triggering laughter again.
However, when the external affairs minister requested that Powell should answer the question, the latter pointed out that Pakistan was a frontline ally of the US in the global fight against terrorism and that Islamabad had condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Powell deftly avoided mentioning anything about the terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, merely underlining that the US was against terrorism of all kinds anywhere in the world.
If there were any disagreements between the secretary of state and the Indian leaders on Kashmir, neither Powell nor Singh gave any indication about it.
On the contrary, the external affairs minister said, "We do not necessarily have to be disagreeable about disagreements (on Kashmir)."
For the reporters, the impression went out that neither Powell not Singh were forthcoming about Kashmir, although the secretary of state emphasised that India and Pakistan had to resolve their dispute pertaining to Kashmir themselves.
Powell seemed cut to the quick, when a reporter referred to Osama bin Laden as a leader, while referring to his attempts to procure nuclear material.
"Nonsense," Powell said.
"Don't elevate him (Osama) to the status of a leader. He is a murderer who has murdered Americans Indians and Pakistanis (during the September 11 US terrorist attacks)."
rediff.com |
