A PERSISTENT THREAT of war continues to flare up between two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. The problem is control of Kashmir, and it could be eased simply by letting the people of that disputed territory make a trip to the ballot box. The majority of the American people do not understand why India and Pakistan are at warin Kashmir. The problem dates back to the end of the British empire. A PERSISTENT THREAT of war continues to flare up between two nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. The problem is control of Kashmir, and it could be eased simply by letting the people of that disputed territory make a trip to the ballot box. The majority of the American people do not understand why India and Pakistan are at war in Kashmir. The problem dates back to the end of the British empire.

Attorney General Bill Lockyer is scheduled to attend. So is state Sen. Liz Figueroa, and Assemblyman John Dutra, and Milpitas Mayor Henry Manayan. The high-powered guest list for a dinner Friday in the Fremont hills is an obvious sign that the Indo-American Community Federation is an organization with clout, even though most local residents have never heard of the non-profit group.

Reflecting the growing recognition in Washington of the plight of Kashmiris Pandits influential democrat from Ohio and members of the India Caucus Sherrod Brown urged Home Minister L.K.Advani to consult the Kashmir Task Force (KTF) while resolving the “unfortunate situation”.In a letter to Advani last week, Brown noted the deteriorating condition of the Pandits, their forced exodus by terrorists trained outside India’s borders and decried the harsh living conditions in the make-shift camps set up for them.