Excerpts from Daily Press Briefing Relating to India-Pakistan Summit

MR. REEKER: Are we done with Peru? Okay.

On the India-Pakistan summit, let me just say that the serious and constructive atmosphere of the talks that we saw in Agra indicate that both sides are committed to resolving their differences. Obviously this will be a difficult and lengthy process, and it is important to keep this meeting in perspective. The two sides were grappling with very difficult issues that have divided them for over 50 years. As you know, we welcomed the dialogue when it was announced and while it was taking place. Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharaff had extensive talks. Their meeting ended a two-year freeze in high-level contacts between India and Pakistan, and we think that Prime Minister Vajpayee's agreement to visit Islamabad for further discussions is itself a positive step.

Foreign Minister Sattar of Pakistan and External Affairs Minister Singh of India both have indicated that their governments want the dialogue to continue. And again, we welcome that. We think dialogue is the important feature of this. It's important for that to go on.

So, as we have said before, we will strongly support the sustained engagement at a senior level between India and Pakistan because the best way to address longstanding bilateral disputes and make real progress toward a reduction in tensions and peaceful resolution of their differences is through dialogue.

Q: That sounds like an old New Yorker's silver lining department. I mean, you said nice things which nobody could challenge of course, but weren't the accomplishments --

MR. REEKER: Barry, I'm sure you could try.

(Laughter.)

Q: No, but didn't it fall a little short of what the US would like to have seen happen?

MR. REEKER: What we have always called for was dialogue on these very difficult questions. What we saw and what we welcomed was an end to the two-year freeze in high-level contacts, an important step in itself, and we saw a serious and constructive atmosphere with the two leaders meeting, which we believe shows that both sides are committed to resolving their differences.

While they didn't reach a final agreement or agreement on a final joint statement, as I said, it is important to keep the meeting in perspective. And we want to just encourage a sustained engagement at a senior level. We think that the agreement of the Prime Minister of India to visit Islamabad for further discussions is itself a positive step, and the two foreign ministers have indicated that they expect the dialogue to continue. So we welcome that.

Q: Does the United States have a position on the Indian contention that Pakistan funds and arms the terrorists or freedom fighters -- however you look at it -- in Kashmir?

MR. REEKER: I don't --

Q: Well, that was one of the issues that some would say led to not-so-constructive an atmosphere and Musharaff was never willing to really own up to this. So, I mean, does the US have a position on it?

MR. REEKER: That is for the two sides to discuss. Our position has been that they need to have a dialogue on these issues. It is only through dialogue that they are going to solve these problems. There is not a military solution to the situation there. The two leaders need to continue a dialogue, and that is why we welcomed this step.

After two years, we see a return to some high-level contacts, and those contacts need to continue. In order to resolve this, they need to discuss their differences. They are difficult issues. And as I said, those issues have been dividing the two countries for over 50 years.

Q: Does the State Department have any information about Pakistani support for rebels in Kashmir?

MR. REEKER: I don't have anything to share with you.

Q: I have a question on Macedonia. Do you have anything new about the situation there? We have got two different statements today. One --

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