U.S. urges Americans to leave India
msnbc.com
May 31 -- The United
States is considering its
diplomatic options as it
tries to avert an all out war
between two important
allies, India and Pakistan.
NBC's Jim Miklaszewski
reports.
Bush orders Rumsfeld to region
to try to avert Kashmir war
NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES
May 31 — The State Department on Friday advised
all but essential U.S. diplomats in India to leave
and urged about 60,000 Americans there to depart
as well because of a rising risk of conflict between
India and Pakistan. Pakistan, meanwhile,
withdrew more troops from the Afghan border,
possibly to move them to the Kashmir frontier for
a face-off with India.
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Photojournalist Gary Knight depicts a
region torn by two nuclear powers and
a movement for independence.
“TENSIONS HAVE RISEN to serious levels” and
those Americans who choose to remain should steer clear of
all border areas between the two countries, the State
Department said.
The warning cited artillery exchanges between Indian
and Pakistani troops and said terrorist groups linked to the
al-Qaida network and implicated in attacks on Americans
have attacked and killed civilians.
In Pakistan, where Americans are also considered to be
at risk from militant Islamists, the U.S. Embassy had already
cut staffing levels to a minimum under an “ordered”
departure.
For the time being, at least, the State Department passed
up the tougher step of ordering non-emergency U.S.
employees to depart India. But a U.S. special operations
team was en route to India from Hawaii to plan for a possible
full evacuation of more than 1,100 U.S. troops and many
thousands of citizens from the two countries in the event that
hostilities get out of hand.
In depth: To the brink in South Asia
There are about 600 U.S. diplomatic workers and
dependents in India, State Department spokesman Richard
Boucher said.
While he stressed the potential for conflict, Boucher also
said Pakistani authorities apparently have issued instructions
to halt the influx of militants into Kashmir — a key demand
of India and a move that could ease tensions considerably.
“We are still looking for confirmation of results on the
ground,” Boucher said.
President Bush was informed of the State Department’s
decision early Friday.
It was not clear how many Americans would take the
State Department’s advice. Those who do will depart on
commercial flights, which are plentiful, a senior U.S. official
said.
OTHER NATIONALS ADVISED TO LEAVE
Dependents of nonessential U.S. personnel in the
embassy in New Delhi and U.S. consulates in Calcutta,
Mumbai and Madras also were encouraged to depart at U.S.
government expense.
Britain, New Zealand, Canada and Australia also urged
their citizens to consider leaving India, saying a dangerous
situation between Indian and Pakistani forces was
developing. |
