President Bush

President George W. Bush has said he “applauds” the leaders of India and Pakistan for “the courage they have shown” in advancing their bilateral dialogue. “Round two of this composite dialogue promises to further the work of tearing down the wall of suspicion between Pakistan and India,” Bush said. The remarks came in response to a speech delivered by Pakistan’s envoy to the U.S., Jehangir Karamat, while presenting his credentials at a special ceremony at the White House. “We are witnessing (Pakistan’s) productive ongoing talks with India,” Bush said. The U.S. “welcomes these talks in the earnest hope that they will bear fruit, and long-standing tensions will continue to ease,” he said. “The U.S. wishes you Godspeed in your journey on the road to peace in the subcontinent, and stands ready to support this process.”

–– By Vasantha Arora