News

DATE=9/27/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=US - PAKISTAN (S-ONLY) NUMBER=2-254389 BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE DATELINE=NEW YORK CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The United States and Pakistan have held what a U-S official calls frank but friendly discussions on a range of issues, including an American request that Pakistan help obtain the arrest of suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Correspondent Nick Simeone has details from New York, where Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Monday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Sartij Aziz. TEXT: "Frank" is how a U-S official describes the conversation between Secretary Albright and Foreign Minister Aziz on U-S demands that Osama Bin Laden be brought to the United States to stand trial for last year's bombings of two American embassies in Africa. In diplomatic terms, the word frank usually indicates a fairly strong exchange of views. Pakistan did help the United States apprehend another wanted terrorist in the region -- Mir Amal Kansi -- two years ago. He was wanted for a deadly shooting spree outside the Central Intelligence Agency (near Washington). A senior U-S official says Secretary Albright also expressed concern about the status of the democratic process in Pakistan, including the recent arrest of several hundred opposition supporters. At the same time, U-S officials have been concerned about what they say are signs of increasing opposition to the Pakistani government, prompting Washington to send private messages to Pakistani political and military leaders that the United States opposes any unconstitutional change of government. (Signed) NEB/NJS/TVM/gm 27-Sep-1999 20:38 PM EDT (28-Sep-1999 0038 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .