Title: Clinton warns
Pakistan Stop cross-border terrorism; Musharraf ready for talks
Author:
Publication: The Tribune
Date: March 26, 2000
ISLAMABAD, March 25 (PTI)
- US President Bill Clinton today emphatically told Pakistan to stop cross
border terrorism, create conditions for resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue
and warned Islamabad of "more isolation" if it continued to support violence.
"No matter how great
the grievance, it is wrong to support attacks against civilians across
the Line of Control," Mr Clinton said in a 15-minute televised address
to the Pakistani people after an hour and 40 minutes of talks with the
military ruler General Pervez Musharraf.
He firmly rejected the
demand for American mediation on the Kashmir issue.
White House spokesman
Joe Lockhart told reporters President Clinton spoke "bluntly" to Gen Musharraf
about US concerns on nuclear disarmament, terrorism, Kashmir and return
of democracy in Pakistan but failed to get any assurances from him.
Addressing a press conference
later Gen Musharraf said he told the US President that Pakistan wanted
India to take "reciprocal action" for reducing tension and was willing
to hold talks with New Delhi "at anytime, anywhere and at any level."
"I said that there was
a requirement for reciprocal action to reduce tension....Then we can also
use our influence to moderate the activities of freedom fighters," he said.
However, according to
a report from New Delhi, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra today
said, "No talks are possible unless Pakistan stops aiding terrorism in
Kashmir".
President Clinton, who
made a nearly five-hour stopover here after a five-day visit to India,
said in his address "We (the US) can't and will not mediate to resolve
the dispute in Kashmir. Only you and India can do that through dialogue."
"I hope you will be able
to meet the difficult challenges we have discussed today. If you don't
there is a danger that Pakistan may grow even more isolated, draining even
more resources away from the needs of the people, moving even closure to
a conflict no one can win," President Clinton said.
After talks in New Delhi
on Tuesday, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had urged Mr Clinton to
take up with the Pakistani leadership India's concerns which the US President
had said he would.
Stating that it was in
Pakistan's interest to reduce tensions with India, Mr Clinton said "a stark
truth must also be faced. There is no military solution to the Kashmir"
problem.
He warned Pakistan against
making any attempts to alter the country's borders through violence and
bloodshed.
He said Islamabad also
must help create conditions that will allow Indo-Pak dialogue to succeed.
"For India and Pakistan
this must be a time of restraint, for respect of the Line of Control, for
renewed lines of communications," Mr Clinton, who later left for Geneva
to hold talks with Syrian President Hafez Al Assad on the Middle East peace
process, said.
He said restoration of
full economic and political partnership with Pakistan depended on Islamabad
meeting these challenges.
President Clinton also
made a strong case for return of democracy in Pakistan, saying "the answer
to flawed democracy is not end to democracy but to improve it."
The US President asked
Pakistan to ponder whether it was more secure today than before it tested
nuclear weapons. He told Islamabad that one way to strengthen its security
would be to join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty as the whole world would
then rally around it.
He said Pakistan could
achieve great things but faced obstacles in the form of its political and
economic situation as also tension in the region. "They are holding Pakistan
back from achieving its full potential in the global economy.
He raised the issue of
'clemency' for deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is facing
trial on charges of treason and hijacking, the maximum punishment for which
is death.
"Yes, he (Clinton) did
raise the issue of Nawaz Sharif ... he suggested restraint on my part,"
Gen Musharraf told a crowded press conference after his nearly two-hour
long talks with Clinton, who made a five-hour stopover here.
The Chief Executive said
that his response on the matter was that the case is in the court.
"We are not a vindictive
people," he said.
Elaborating on what transpired
between the two on the Sharif case, Gen Mushraff said the U.S. President
talked of the "history" of violence against leaders "in one form or the
other" in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.
Gen Musharraf said he
had emphatically conveyed to US President that "unilateral action is not
possible by Pakistan. There is requirement of reciprocity to start dialogue".
The military ruler had
a tough time answering pointed queries on President Clinton endorsing New
Delhi's stand respecting the sanctity of Line of Control, cross-border
terrorism, abjuring violence and no role for third party mediation on the
Kashmir issue.
He also sought to downplay
suggestions that Washington's new engagement with India was to Islamabad's
disadvantage.
He voiced satisfaction
with the visit and said it was a good omen for the region's future.
"It augurs well for the
future of our region," Gen Musharraf said.
General Musharraf assured
US President Clinton he would take up with the Taliban in Afghanistan Washington's
demand that international terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden be brought
to justice.
Replying to a question,
Mr Musharraf told reporters that he informed Mr Clinton that the issue
relating to bin Laden was a "pechida (complicated)" one. He said there
had been no success so far on the issue.
"I will raise the issue
whenever I go to Afghanistan and I will certainly go," Pakistan's Chief
Executive said.
"We don't mind returning
to the Lahore process, if the centrality of the Kashmir issue is realised,"
General Musharraf said at the press conference after the departure of Mr
Clinton.
"We deeply appreciate
the interest expressed by President Clinton in the resolution of the Kashmir
dispute and reduction of tensions between Pakistan and India," he said.
"I also impressed upon
President Clinton that US engagement is necessary to facilitate a meaningful
dialogue for progress towards resolution of the Kashmir problem, in accordance
with the wishes of the Kashmiri people," he said.
To a question, he said
he had given an "open formula" on resumption of dialogue and it was up
to President Clinton what role he would play.
He said Mr Clinton had
"visited our region at a time when it is passing through a critical period.
We both share the concern that tensions in South Asia are high and need
to be defused. It is widely recognised that Kashmir is the root cause of
tensions in the region."
On cross-border terrorism,
General Musharraf said, "We are not involved in sending people across the
Line of Control into Kashmir. Nobody is allowed to go across. If there
is some infiltration it is without our knowledge."
He said if Indian troops
could not stop infiltration, "how could Pakistan be expected to do so with
50,000 personnel."
Asked if the visit of
the US President had given legitimacy to his government, he said, "I think
my legitimacy comes from the people of Pakistan. Legitimacy comes from
the people's support. I do not need a certificate from anybody."
"My discussions with
the US President also covered all issues of mutual concern relative to
the region and beyond, including nuclear matters and terrorism," the military
ruler said.
"The US President pointed
to certain concerns over nuclear proliferation and emphasised the need
for restraint," General Musharraf said, adding "I reaffirmed our policy
of restraint and responsibility on nuclear matters."
He said he had reiterated
to Mr Clinton Pakistan's long-standing policy of preventing nuclear proliferation.
"I stated that Pakistan's nuclear deterrence is indispensable for our security.
I proposed resumption of dialogue with the USA on nuclear issues."
He said both the USA
and Pakistan agreed on the need to combat the menace of terrorism. "Pakistan
will continue to participate in all international efforts aimed at combating
terrorism and in whichever form it occurs."
Highlights of address
Pakistan must reduce
tension with India Respect the Line of Control No military
solution to Kashmir Supporting attacks against civilians across the
LoC wrong USA will not mediate in the Kashmir dispute Meet challenges
or face isolation.
