2 women prime ministers discussing Asian policy

The Soviet military presence in Afghanistan and US counterdefense moves in the region are expected to dominate talks between British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opening here today (April 15), diplomatic sources said. The two do not see eye to eye on the Afghan situation: Mrs. Thatcher condemns the Soviet intervention outright, while Mrs. Gandhi speaks of other foreign interference which she says helped bring it about, the sources said.

Mrs. Thatcher, who began a five-day official visit here before going to the Gulf, is expected to brief Mrs. Gandhi on her meeting last month with President Reagan and explain American intentions in setting up a rapid-deployment fo rce in the Gulf and rearming Pakistan.