Powell plays peacemaker

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Colin Powell headed to Asia Sunday on a diplomatic mission intended to keep tensions between Pakistan and India from further complicating the U.S. anti-terror campaign in neighboring Afghanistan. \nPakistan has been supporting Islamic militants who seek an end to Indian rule in the predominantly Muslim region of Kashmir. A terrorist attack last week in the Indian sector of Kashmir killed about 40 people. \nDeputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said last week that Powell would try to see if there were a way "to lower the temperature" between the two countries. \nPakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, has cooperated with U.S. efforts to track down Osama bin Laden and go after his Taliban government hosts in Afghanistan. Musharraf has allowed American military aircraft to land in Pakistan and has granted the United States use of at least two air bases despite widespread protests in Pakistan. \nMindful of that cooperation, President Bush last month lifted sanctions against Pakistan and India that were imposed after the two nations tested nuclear weapons in 1998. The sanctions barred economic and military assistance to the two countries. \nThe United States and Pakistan also recently signed an agreement to reschedule $379 million in bilateral debt. \nOn Friday, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation announced a variety of economic initiatives for Pakistan, including extension of a $300 million special line of credit. \nOPIC is a self-sustaining federal agency that backs U.S. business expansion programs in developing countries. \n"Pakistan's commitment to the war against terrorism becomes even more meaningful for ordinary Pakistanis when foreign direct investment supports the country's economic development," OPIC president Peter S. Watson said. \nIndia also has won praise from the State Department for sharing intelligence on terrorist groups after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. \nWhile acknowledging concern about the situation in Kashmir, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said last week that "the most important thing is to thank India and Pakistan each in their own way for their cooperation." \nPakistan's foreign minister, Abdul Sattar, said Sunday on ABC's "This Week" that the United States and the United Nations "can help recommence a dialogue between Pakistan and India so that we, with the rest of the world community, can attempt to arrive at the solution acceptable to the people of Kashmir." \nAfter visiting Pakistan and India, Powell will travel to Shanghai, China, where he will join President Bush at the meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ministers.