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Having referred briefly to the withdrawal of the IPKF from Sri Lanka, President Venkataraman said that Pakistan presented more problems. India had had high hopes of Benazir Bhutto. But she was not master of the situation; she had no majority and was under constant pressure from the opposition and the army. His experience was that military dictatorship
once you had had it, it was very
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was like a chronic disease difficult to stop it recurring.
4. The main bilateral problem was now Kashmir. Pakistan had been infiltrating terrorists into Kashmir for some time. Now she was also exfiltrating Kashmiris, with a view to returning them when they were fully trained. The internal situation in Kashmir was very difficult; where terrorism was rampant, it was hard to know what people really wanted. The Secretary of State said that his impression was that the Pakistan Government was certainly not spoiling for a fight over Kashmir.
5.
President Venkataraman said that relations with China were improving, and shook his head over the situation in Burma. Mr Goswami added that though there were terrorist problems on the Assam border, the Burmese Government was not responsible for them.
6.
The President and Mr Hurd agreed that bilateral relations were now in very good order. Discussion ended with the Secretary of State explaining, at President Venkataraman's request, how he saw the situation in Eastern Europe.
7.
The Indians subsequently briefed the press to the effect that the President had expressed serious concern over the future of Hong Kong citizens of Indian origin who would be left stateless after 1997. He did not, in fact, mention the subject.
8.
The call ended at 1610 hrs.
Distribution:
Mr McLaren
SAD
HKD
SEAD
Chanceries:
New Delhi Islamabad Kathmandu
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