WASHINGTON: The US president George Bush has said we will continue to encourage Indo-Pakistan rapprochement and the adoption of confidence-building measures and other concrete steps to moderate their military competition PTT reports
In this year’s national security strategy message to the Congress Bush said in South Asia as elsewhere we strongly believe security is best served by resolving disputes through negotiations rather than military pressure.
The dangers of intermediate range missile deployments and nuclear proliferation in the subcontinent persist however and this year we were unable to certify Pakistan’s nuclear program under the Pressler Amendment. Bush also said the US remained committed to achieving a comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan
Bush said as the effects of the cold war receded regional disputes was less likely automatically to be perceived as part of a permanent frequently dangerous sometimes violent-competition thus allowing broader international cooperation in their resolution.
Less happily said Bush in some regions this overall positive trend could unleash local destructive forces that were formerly kept in check.
A key task for the future will be maintaining regional balances and resolving disputes before they erupt in military conflict the said.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
