Jun-A-4

AS WAFFLING AS PUBLIC AND POLITICAL OPINION

ON THE TENSIONS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

THE ON/OFF SPITI TRIP REMAINS---

TENTATIVELY---ON!

From: Himalayan Health Exchange <info@himalayanhealth.com>

Date: 6/1/02 5:42PM

Subject: Still On

Dear Friends,

This is a follow up message sent to you on May 24 based on the travel

advisory warning issued by the US Department of State . Since then, it has

been a roller coaster ride and a day to day thing as far finalizing plans

for our trip are concerned. I have been in constant touch with the Himachal

Pradesh, State Department of Health on the developments taking shape. The

Health officials feed back was on the positive side compared to that of our

media. The Western media reports, combined with the chances of war

escalating into a nuclear confrontation, made us look at all the options.

Recent developments in the past 24 hours following international pressures,

on both Pakistan and India have been very positive with a ‑ 'no to nuclear

weapons use' ‑ statements coming in from both heads of the Governments,

president Mussharaf calling it insane to even think about the use of

nuclear weapons (quite different from what his ambassador to UN said last

week) and the Indian Government's policy of no first use of nuclear

weapons. US Defense Secretary Mr. Donald Rumsfeld's visit to the region

next week will further ease tensions. Weighing all the negatives and

safety concerns, in spite of the travel advisory warning, I feel confident

enough to keep our plans in place and not postpone our trip as of now.

I considered the following factors and discussed with our advisors Dr.

Glenn Geelhoed, Deborah Szymanski and Dr. William Norton before coming to

this decision. They will be accompanying us for the trip.

1) An overwhelming majority of those team members I've spoken with still

want to proceed as planned;

2) Statements coming from the heads of Pakistan and India on no use of

nuclear weapons; (which was my main concern)

3) Safety of the region;

4) Similar travel warning issued by the US embassy in India to US citizens

already there, not to travel to five states in India, the warning does not

include our state HIMACHAL PRADESH

5) My personal knowledge of the region

Please take time to think it over the weekend and if you have any

reservations, let me know. Feel free to call me during the weekend.

Ravi I Singh

404‑929‑9399