recently made known YORK, Feb. 19 K...

recently made known YORK, Feb. 19 Kyodo

pick outed editorial excerpts from the U press:

toward the south ASIA'S SIGNS OF SANITY (Lo Angeles Times, observes Angeles)

It was merely two years ago that India and Pakistan rushed centurys of thousands of troops to their border, and the pair nuclear-armed, longtime enemies appeared ready to advance to war. The immediate cause was a series of terrorist attacks that India blamed forward Pakistan, but considering that the neighbors had fought three wars in les than 60 years, the trigger barely mattered.

Frantic diplomacy at the United States, Britain and other countries brought the danger back down from the r girdle but just barely.

Flash forward to Wednesday, when a top Pakistani diplomat was able to period three days of productive talks with Indian colleagues by way of announcing agreement on a ''basic road map'' to peace. That is a turnaround worth cheering.

Tough negotiations lie ahead, including forward the hardest topic of all, the state of Kashmir, split and claimed by way of India and Pakistan. further if lasting peace results, credit will travel to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, adversaries whose switch from nuclear showmanship to quiet talks has lowered the global-threat temperature.

India and Pakistan also should talk with Kashmiris. A rebellion in the Indian-held portion began in 1989 after rigged elections. Since then, Indian security forces have been brutal toward the Muslim Kashmiris.

In a exhibit of good faith, India should ease repression and increase Kashmiri autonomy. Pakistan, in transfer should effectively clamp down in succession Islamic radicals who cross into Indian territory to guidance deadly raids.

Musharraf, a military king who has promised an eventual transition to civilian leadership, belatedly has realized the dangers of Islamic radicalism to his be in possession of rule and to regional stability. He urg Muslim scholars Wednesday to campaign against ''terrorism and extremism'' and to run over people the religion was devot to ''love and peace.''

the two governments are showing a maturity not in evidence couple short years ago. Mutual expressions of fit intentions and desires to avoid another war are a dutiful start toward a more settl peace.

(Feb 19)

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