U.S. urges citizens to leave India
By Anwar Iqbal
From the International Desk
Published 6/5/2002 7:07 PM
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WASHINGTON, June 5 (UPI) -- The State Department Wednesday issued its strongest warning yet to American citizens in India and Pakistan to leave the countries because of the risk of intensified military hostilities between the two nuclear rivals.
The advisory was issued just hours after Pakistan rejected India's offer of joint patrols of their common border in Kashmir and President George W. Bush urged both sides to take steps to reduce fears of an all-out nuclear war in the subcontinent.
The new warning replaces a previous advisory issued May 31, which authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and dependents from the U.S. Embassy and consulates in India and advised Americans to defer travel plans.
"The Department of State ... strongly urges that American citizens in India depart," according to the latest warning. It also "warned" U.S. citizens to defer traveling to India, a stronger expression than the "advise" given previously.
"Conditions along India's border with Pakistan and in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have deteriorated. Tensions have risen to serious levels, and the risk of intensified military hostilities between India and Pakistan cannot be ruled out," it said.
The State Department also warned Americans to delay traveling to India, particularly to all border areas between India and Pakistan. The advisory included a reminder that the Indian government has suspended travel between the two countries.
"Military movements continue along both the Line of Control in Kashmir and the border between India and Pakistan," the State Department said. "Artillery firing along the Line of Control has caused death and injury in that area." The Line of Control demarcates the border between the two countries in the Kashmir region.
The State Department advisory says that terrorist groups, some of which are linked to al Qaida and previously have been implicated in attacks on Americans, are active there as well, and have attacked and killed civilians.
The State Department also asked those U.S. citizens who decide to remain in India to "carefully monitor media reports for current information on developing situations and stay in touch with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi or the nearest U.S. consulate general in India."
An advisory issued for Pakistan reminds the Americans of the March 17 attack on worshippers at a church service in Islamabad, where two U.S. citizens were killed and several more were injured, and of "the brutal kidnapping and murder of an American journalist, Daniel Pearl, in Karachi" in January this year.
"There is a growing possibility that as security is increased at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers will seek less well-protected targets," the warning explained. "These may include facilities where Americans are generally known to congregate or visit, such as clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events."
It says that because of these concerns the State Department had already ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and family members of the embassy and consulates in Pakistan on March 22,
Strongly urging Americans to leave Pakistan, the advisory warns that "from time to time, the U.S. missions in Pakistan may temporarily suspend public services ... to review their security posture."
Due to security concerns, it adds, U.S. "officials may be prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Pakistan."
While praising Pakistan for "continuing to give full support to the international campaign against terrorism," the advisory says that some "al Qaida members have fled to Pakistan and other countries."
The State Department urged U.S. citizens who live in Pakistan to be cautious and avoid crowds, demonstrations, and areas where Americans generally congregate.
Earlier Wednesday, Pakistan rejected the Indian proposal for joint patrols along the line of control but said that "all proposals can be discussed as soon as India signifies its willingness to resume a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan."
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee rejected a Pakistani proposal for a third-country monitoring of the line of control, saying that it was not practical to do so.
"If Pakistan wants to check infiltration, arrangements can be made for joint patrolling," he said. India accuses Pakistan of pushing armed Islamic militants into the Indian side of Kashmir, a charge Islamabad denies.
International pressure is mounting on both India and Pakistan to end their six-month military standoff. More than 500,000 troops are lined on the either side of the border sparking fears of a nuclear war.
Vajpayee ruled out any immediate de-escalation of troops from the border saying cross-border terrorism must end from Pakistani side.
"The question of de-escalation comes last," Vajpayee said at a news conference at the conclusion of his four-day visit to Almaty. "Why did the need for deployment arise in the first place, to stop infiltration?"
Vajpayee said some 3,000 militants were waiting in camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir to infiltrate into India. He accused Pakistan of not keeping its word to stop infiltration. He also criticized Islamabad for supporting terrorism in the name of freedom struggle.
In Washington, Bush telephoned both Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Vajpayee, urging them to take steps that will ease tensions.
"The president reiterated to President Musharraf that the United States expects Pakistan to live up to the commitment to end all support for terrorism," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said. "The president emphasized to Prime Minister Vajpayee the need for India to respond with de-escalatory steps."
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage arrives in the region from Thursday in an effort to reach a peaceful conclusion to the stalemate.
(Harbakhsh Singh Nanda in New Delhi contributed to this report)
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