New Delhi, October 16
India tonight conveyed its concerns on the Kashmir issue to US Secretary of State Colin Powell in the wake of his comment that this was “central” to the relationship between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The issue of his comment came up during a 50-minute one-to-one meeting External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had with Mr Powell, shortly after his arrival from Islamabad where the American leader made those remarks to reporters in the presence of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Asked whether India had taken up the matter with Mr Powell, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, “Our concerns on the issue are well known to the American side. It would have been natural for us to have taken the opportunity to explain our position”.

During the meeting, which was followed by delegation-level talks, the two sides agreed to strengthen their fight against terrorism and have unanimity of views on a post-Taliban structure in Afghanistan, she said.

Both sides agreed that there should be a broad-based multi-ethnic dispensation in a post-Taliban scenario in Afghanistan.

Terming the Jaswant Singh-Powell parleys as “extremely cordial and positive”, the spokesperson said New Delhi and Washington discussed the current situation in the region following the USA-led military action in Afghanistan.

Ways to “further broaden, strengthen and deepen” Indo-US bilateral relations also figured in the talks, she said.

Mr Powell would be meeting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Home Minister L.K. Advani and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra tomorrow.

The US side included Mr John Bolsten, Under Secretary Arms Control and International Security, Ms Christina Rocca, Assistant Secretary for South Asia, Mr Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Mr Peter Rodman, Assistant Secretry of Defence for International Affairs and Mr W.F. Duran, Assistant to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Indian delegation comprised Mr Arun Singh, Special Adviser for Security, Mr Mishra, Foreign Secretary Ms Chokila Iyer, Indian Ambassador to the USA Mr Lalit Mansingh and senior officials.