South Asia media focus on Powell

Powell's visit is front-page news

The visit of US Secretary of State Colin Powell dominated the newspapers in India and Pakistan on Tuesday.

While the continued military strikes on Afghanistan were seen to be the main focus of Mr Powell's visit, the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan was also expected to figure.

Pakistan media

"Part of the purpose of Powell's trip is to reduce tensions between rival India and Pakistan," wrote Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.

Powell's comments on Monday again showed the US interest in keeping the two relationships balanced

Dawn

"Powell's comments on Monday again showed the US interest in keeping the two relationships balanced," it added.

The News said that Washington would hope "to keep the temperature between the two rivals at a manageable degree amid reports of heavy firing at the Pak-India border".

The newspaper quoted Mr Powell as saying that "the United States will push India and Pakistan to resume their dialogue on Kashmir to relieve tensions over the disputed region which could lead to conflict and damage the US-led war on terrorism".

It also said that Mr Powell would also listen to Islamabad on crucial issues concerning the on-going war in Afghanistan.

The Nation reported that Mr Powell said he would "consult India and Pakistan on how they saw a new Afghan regime".

Washington is keen to reward Islamabad for its support in the US-led -terrorism campaign

The Nation

But in an apparent reference to differences between India and Pakistan over the composition of a new Afghanistan regime, the newspaper said Mr Powell would warn the two nuclear rivals that no one country would have a veto over the next government in Kabul.

The Pakistani media also focussed on the benefits of supporting the United States in its actions against Osama bin Laden.

"Washington is keen to reward Islamabad for its support in the US-led -terrorism campaign against Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network and Afghanistan's ruling Taleban," The Nation said.

And The News reported that the secretary of state had hinted at enhancing defence cooperation with Pakistan according to reporters accompanying Mr Powell.

Indian media

Indian newspapers made a point of referring to the protests in Pakistan against Mr Powell's visit to Islamabad.

The Indian Express said that he was arriving amid protests by hardline groups backing the Taleban and with a mission to tackle the concerns of a revived ally about the future shape of its neighbourhood.

"Despite its concerns as a key member of the international coalition, Islamabad has its concerns about a long military action in Afghanistan, the future set-up after the expected fall of the Taleban government and its dispute with New Delhi over Kashmir," the Express said.

The US would push India and Pakistan to resume their dialogue on Kashmir to reduce tensions over the issue which could damage the US-led war on terrorism

The Indian Express

But the overnight shelling of Pakistani army positions by India along the line of control in Kashmir was also widely reported.

India shells Pak as Powell lands" ran the banner headline in The Times of India.

It also reported how Mr Powell said on his arrival in Islamabad that the US would push India and Pakistan to resume their dialogue on Kashmir to reduce tensions over the issue which could damage the US-led war on terrorism.

It also drew attention to possible military cooperation and quoted Mr Powell as saying that he was willing to discuss with Pakistani President Musharraf any aspect "from arms sales to personnel exchanges, although many weapons transfers are still barred by sanctions".

And in continued Indian focus on the growing concern in Pakistan over the military strikes The Hindu reported that hours before Mr Powell landed "General Musharraf presided over a meeting of the military top brass to take stock of the situation after eight days of the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan and the efforts to cobble up an alternative political set-up in Kabul".