Holbrooke arrives in India after Pak, Afghan visit

New Delhi: US special envoy Richard Holbrooke arrived in New Delhi, late on Sunday, the night of February 15 on a visit that will provide India the first opportunity to give its assessment to the Obama administration about the threat of terrorism emanating from Pakistan in the backdrop of Mumbai attacks.

Holbrooke, envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, will meet External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Adviser M K Narayanan on Monday.

The special envoy visited Pakistan and was in Afghanistan, has now come here to ‘listen’ to what India has to say on the situation in the region.

In the backdrop of the Mumbai attacks, the Indian side is expected to apprise him about how terrorism emanating from Pakistan is posing a threat, not only to the region, but to the entire world.

The Indian side is expected to share evidence regarding the Mumbai attacks and discuss other aspects related to it.

Through Holbrooke, India is expected to impress upon the US to do much more to ensure Pakistan acts in a determined manner to uproot the nursery of terrorism existing there.

India also wants the US to suspend military aid to Pakistan as it is not being used for the purpose intended.

Holbrooke is visiting the region to study the latest situation to enable Washington to shape its policy towards these two countries.

The US has made it clear that Kashmir is not on the agenda of Holbrooke's visit and would not be discussed, allaying concerns initially here that the US could try mediation between India and Pakistan on the issue.

On asked then why Holbrooke was going to New Delhi, US State Department spokesman Robert Wood said last week, “India is an important country in the region and has interest in Afghanistan.”

Holbrooke wants to hear from the Indian government in terms of how it can better contribute to peace and stability in Afghanistan, he said.

Describing the nature of Holbrooke's trip to South Asia, Wood said, “In essence this is an orientation trip. He's not carrying any messages to any of these governments from either the Secretary (of State) or the (US) President. He's not going there to lecture. He's going there to listen.”

Holbrooke would report to the Secretary of State and the US President once he is back from the region.