Powell sees no ISI role in Pearl case Anti-Pakistan elements discouraged; Musharraf praised for efforts to apprehend murderers of US journalist
NEW YORK- The intelligence agency of Pakistan, ISI, has no involvement in the kidnapping or murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, said US Secretary of State Colin Powell. This statement has discouraged those elements that are engaged in creating impressions abroad that ISI had some kind of hand and attempted to cover-up the murder of Daniel Pearl.
In his Interview with CNN, Secretary of State, Mr Powell categorically said that he had seen no evidence to suggest that ISI was involved in the kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl. Secretary Powell repeatedly denied any involvement of ISI in the matter but also praised President Musharraf for making every effort to apprehend those responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl.
In a separate interview with CNN, Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistani Ambassador to US, also rejected such reports as ‘Speculative’ that ISI had any involvement in the Daniel Pearl case. Citing the efforts of Musharraf Government to apprehend the culprits in the case, Maleeha Lodhi said that ISI was an arm of the government and once a decision is taken, all in the government work to achieve the goals.
US Secretary of State also welcomed the proposal of the Saudi Crown Prince for the Mid-East peace and told CNN that President Bush and he himself had called the Saudi Prince and thanked him for his constructive proposal. He added that some similar proposals have been tabled before but in the context of prevailing situation, he called it a positive idea that needs to be welcomed. In order to avoid any Israeli reaction, he made it clear that it was only an idea or a vision, so far.
Powell also confirmed that US would launch more broadcasts and use other tools of public diplomacy in the Muslim world. Commenting on the figures of recently held survey in the Muslim countries that indicated strong resentment against American policies and actions in Afghanistan and in other Muslim countries.
The survey says that majority of Pakistanis also resent American policy and actions. Secretary Colin Powell conceded that Palestinian-Israeli issue was one of the main causes of resentment against America by the Muslim world. Calling it a complicated issue, US Secretary of State said that America was perceived as patron and promoter of Israeli actions against Palestinians thus generating resentment against America.
Source: The News
Date:3/4/2002
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