We don't want to see any country in the SA region through the prism of a third country

- U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca

Following is the transcript of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca's interview with Washington File writer Phillip Kurata on the eve of her visits to India, Pakistan and Nepal. Ms. Rocca is to land Kathmandu today. The text of the interview is as follows: Chief editor.

QUESTION: You are about to embark on your first trip to India, Pakistan and Nepal as Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia. What messages will you carry to the region?

Rocca: I'm really looking forward to this trip. I've been to the region before and to these three countries specifically. On this trip, I want to hear first hand about the concerns of the region and understand how I can better promote bilateral relations with each of the countries. This administration has made it very clear that the United States has important strategic and economic interests in South Asia, and I hope to further those objectives.

Q: Could you talk specifically about Nepal? Given the tragedy that has befallen that country, what message will you carry to Nepal's government and people?

Rocca: The recent events in Nepal have been tragic. We've expressed our condolences to the people of Nepal and to the current king. The country also is under stress from the Maoist insurgency. In Nepal, I will reaffirm our support this young democracy and our hope that they will stay on this path despite the difficulties because the benefits of democracy are worth it.

Q: How do you view the results of the summit between Pakistan and India that was just held? What step is the U.S. prepared to take to help those two neighbors reduce their tensions?

Rocca: It's important for India and Pakistan to discuss directly all the issues that divide them so the summit is a good first step. We hope that it will be the start of a continuing dialogue between these two countries. We are encouraged by the fact that Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee and Pakistani President Musharraf plan to meet on the margins of the U.N. General Assembly in September as well as by the fact by Prime Minister Vajpayee has accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan sometime later this year. The U.S. strongly supports sustained engagement at the senior level between India and Pakistan as the best way to address longstanding bilateral disputes and make progress toward reducing tensions in the region.

Q: Two of the three wars that India and Pakistan have fought have been over Kashmir. How does the U.S. view a solution to that conflict?

Rocca: The solution to this issue really lies with the two countries involved and should certainly take into account the view of those most directly affected, the Kashmiris. We could only play a role if asked to do so by both sides.

Q: The Bush administration has begun a review of overall policy toward South Asia. Can you describe the parameters of the emerging policy toward India, Pakistan, and the rest of the region?

Rocca: Essentially, we want to get to a situation where we have a well thought-out and differentiated policy for each country and the linkages are removed. We'll have a policy toward India and a policy toward Pakistan that don't depend one on the other. We don't want to see any country in the region through the prism of a third country. With that in mind, we want to establish a strong bilateral relationship with each country individually.

Q: Could you give some examples?

Rocca: Yes, for example, our relationship with India will have one foundation, and our relationship with Pakistan will have another. Especially with these two countries, we'd like to get away from a zero sum game approach. By zero sum game, I mean what's good for Pakistan is not necessarily bad for India and vice versa. We have strong interests in both countries. We want to pursue those interests and we don't want them to be dependent one upon the other.

Q: What are the prospects for lifting the sanctions on India and Pakistan because of their nuclear testing?

Rocca: The administration currently is carrying out two separate reviews. One is an overall comprehensive review of sanctions and their utility. The other is a review of the India-Pakistan sanctions specifically, the ones that were imposed after the nuclear tests in 1998. We're working to determine the best way to move ahead on the issue of non-proliferation. We'll be working with the U.S. Congress to get beyond these nuclear sanctions.

Q: The U.S. is seeking the extradition of Usama bin Laden to a country where he can be brought to justice. What role is Pakistan playing in this effort? And could you talk about Pakistan's role in the fight against terrorism?

Rocca: First of all, I'd like to point out that it's not only the U.S. that is seeking the expulsion of indicted terrorist Usama bin Laden from Afghanistan to a country where he can be brought to justice. It's the international community's response to terrorism as expressed in UN Security Council Resolution 1333, which calls on the Taliban to take steps on terrorism, including closing terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. We're obviously very concerned about terrorism in South Asia and elsewhere in the world. We're working with Pakistan and other countries in the region to put an end to it. We believe it is very much in Pakistan's interest to address this situation.

Q: What future steps is the United States considering to relieve the plight of the Afghan refugees?

Rocca: In May of this year, Secretary Powell announced an additional $43 million in aid to the Afghan people. Combined with other aid we have provided this year, the United States is the largest donor of assistance to the Afghan people. It's over $124 million this year alone, going to people inside Afghanistan as well as to refugees in camps in Pakistan. We also continue to seek contributions from other countries to provide additional assistance. Some four million people are at risk of famine.

Q: The relationship between India and the United States has undergone a significant transformation. What measures does the Bush administration plan to take to keep the relationship flourishing? Is a presidential visit to South Asia a possibility in the near future?

Rocca: From the very beginning, President Bush has identified enhanced relations with India as a priority of this administration. Certainly, from the beginning, we have seen very strong momentum in this relationship. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage visited New Delhi. As we speak, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Henry Shelton, is in New Delhi. There will no doubt be a number of other senior U.S. visitors to India. In addition, the administration recently hosted a visit by India's Minister for External Affairs and Defense Jaswant Singh as well by Indian Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer. The U.S. regards India as a major player on the world's stage and we're continuing senior level dialogue on security issues. At the same time, we need to improve the bilateral trade relationship. There is enormous economic and commercial potential between our two countries and we intend to look for ways to realize that potential.

Q: You have said that the U.S. strategic relationship with Pakistan has changed since the end of the Cold War. Could you highlight what you see as the principal elements of this new relationship?

Rocca: The U.S. has a longstanding friendship with Pakistan. Over the years we have weathered major crises together and overcome serious differences. I believe this relationship must be sustained and enhanced. Pakistan is an important regional power; it's an Islamic power, as I said in my confirmation hearing. The Bush administration wants to help Pakistan work through some recurrent difficult economic, political and social challenges that it is facing. We need to find a formula to promote our mutual goals: improved regional stability, broad-based economic growth and the return and strengthening of democratic institutions in Pakistan.

Q: Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been experiencing chronic violence -- Bangladesh with political clashes, and Sri Lanka with a civil war that has claimed thousands of casualties. What measures is the U.S. considering to help those countries?

Rocca: Bangladesh is actually a good news story in terms of trade and economic development, but all that could really be put at risk by the political violence that is escalating in the run-up to the elections in October. We have urged the Bangladeshi political leaders in the government and in the opposition to avoid confrontation and violence and to ratchet down the rhetoric for the good of all the people of Bangladesh. Sri Lanka also has been a success story economically, but it has yet to resolve its tragic ethnic war. Until there is a peaceful resolution of this conflict, Sri Lanka can not fully realize its great potential. We believe it is time for the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to cease hostilities and to turn toward negotiation. We strongly support Norway's attempt to facilitate such negotiations.

Q: Could you talk about the Seeds of Peace program and its potential to alleviate the hatred and mistrust between Pakistan and India?

Rocca: This summer, for the first time, teens from Pakistan and India participated in a private sector youth exchange program called "Seeds of Peace." Under this program, 160 teens from the Middle East, the Balkans, and South Asia spent three weeks together at a summer camp in Maine. I spoke to those campers yesterday. It was a very moving, exhilarating experience. They're very courageous kids. "Seeds of Peace" was founded in 1993 as a way to get Israeli and Palestinian and other Arab teens together to learn about conflict resolution. Over the years, the program has grown and this summer it included teens from South Asia. We're really pleased to have contributed funding to make the South Asian participation possible in this program. As you know, the "Seeds of Peace" program gets traditional enemies to think together about ways to build peace.

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