May 10, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1424

WASHINGTON, May 9: The US media and opinion makers are urging the Bush administration to stay engaged in its efforts to broker a peace between South Asia nuclear rivals, India and Pakistan.

In its Friday edition, the Boston Globe newspaper reminds the administration that “the United States walked away from its old Cold War ally Pakistan after the Russians had left Afghanistan and the Soviet Union disintegrated.”

The Globe says the United States needs warm relations with India, which will soon be the world’s most populous country, but not at Pakistan’s expense. It reminds policy-makers in Washington that “(President) Musharraf is an irreplaceable ally of the United States in the fight against terrorism in that part of the world. The United States needs to support and encourage Pakistan, too.”

The official Voice of America notes that “hopes are running high for the resumption of a serious dialogue between India and Pakistan, and some observers say that pressure by Washington has helped push the two toward new talks.”

VOA however, warns not to expect “quick progress especially on the sensitive issue of Kashmir, the major cause of military tension in South Asia.”