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Washington Watches Kashmir Conflict with Wary Eye

Aired June 3, 2002 - 06:05   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As you know, the White House is keeping a wary eye on the conflict, and it's doing some diplomatic arm twisting to diffuse tensions, but our Kathleen Koch says Russia's president, as you heard Matthew say, may prove to be the key player in the region.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Daily cross- border shelling, western diplomats and U.N. officials fleeing India and Pakistan, as President Bush monitors the deteriorating situation, talking with his national security team. A senior administration official Sunday applauded Russian President Vladimir Putin's efforts to mediate, saying it's important the international community work with both sides to get them to step back and de-escalate the situation. But Indian and Pakistani diplomats each insist the other must take the first step.

LALIT MANSINGH, INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Pakistan has to stop exporting to India, and then tensions will come down. Does President Musharraf have the capability? Ari Fleischer said so on Friday. He said that Pakistan has a robust military capacity, and it can prevent terrorists from crossing over into India.

MALEEHA LOHDI, PAKISTAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: He has already ensured that there is no cross-border infiltration. He said none is going on, but having said that, it takes two to de-escalate. It takes two to make peace. We have yet to see the Indian's reciprocate.

KOCH: If the situation escalates, there is concern the U.S. may have to reassess its military operation in Afghanistan. There are also worries about a nuclear exchange, initiated by one of the countries, or extremists who might exploit the confrontation to gain access to a Pakistani nuclear weapon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that it could fall into hands of people who don't realize the consequences of starting that nuclear war. I think that it is the hottest of the hot spots.

SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R), TEXAS: You see what both heads of the countries have said, that they wouldn't use nuclear weapons. But we also hoped that they wouldn't test them, and they have. We need to be very, very careful here.

KOCH: Some point out the brewing conflict was preventable.

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: The lesson to be learned, among others, is that the United States will pay a high price if we let other regional conflicts go unaddressed and develop into a threat to the world.

KOCH (on camera): The U.S. is now kicking into high diplomatic gear, and it's unclear whether the deputy secretary of state or the defense secretary, both soon heading to the region, can persuade the entrenched enemies to stand down.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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