Author:
Publication: Sify News
Date: June 14, 2003
URL: http://headlines.sify.com/2201news1.html?headline=Musharraf~not~to~rule~out~another~Kargil
Maintaining that Islamabad does
not trust New Delhi, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has declared he
would be more than willing to lead any talks between India and Pakistan
aimed at normalising ties between the two countries.
Blowing hot and cold in the same
breath, the General, who was the architect of the 1999 Kargil intrusion,
did not rule out any similar situation in the future but said that to avoid
"Kargils," both countries needed to resolve disputes and much depended
on how they proceeded on the peace track.
"We don't trust you when you say
that we should focus on trade. We see it as an attempt to sideline the
main issue of Kashmir," Gen Musharraf told the NDTV in an interview.
He however said (Pakistan) Prime
Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali may be the better person for Prime Minister
Atal Bihari Vajpayee to meet.
"But if Vajpayee is willing to meet
me, I would be more than willing to meet him and lead the talks," he said
in the intreview to be telecast on Saturday.
Defending the 1999 Kargil intrusion,
the General admitted that Pakistani troops were involved in the operation
but refused to accept that it was a mistake and against Pakistan's self
interest.
"Kargil was a decision taken by
the mujahideens and we got involved because of the action taken by Indian
troops."
Refusing to commit himself to avoid
any Kargil-like situation in future, the General said before Kargil, Kashmir
was a dead issue and to avoid "Kargils," both countries needed to resolve
disputes and much depended on how they proceeded on the path of peace.
Asserting that there was no change
in Pakistan's position that Kashmir was the core issue, President Musharraf
said India and Pakistan could talk of trade and economy and other issues
but no talks would succeed unless the core issue was settled.
He, however, bluntly said Pakistan
did not trust India when New Delhi said focus should be on trade. Islamabad
saw it as an attempt to sideline the main issue of Kashmir, he added.
The general who came to power by
overthrowing the elected government of Nawaz Sharief in 1999 said he refused
to accept that Jammu and Kashmir elections were free and fair.
"I am very clear that the people
of the state did not want to be a part of India despite a 44 per cent voter
turnout..."
On the proposal for having a soft
border between the two countries, Gen Musharraf said it could only be a
small step forward.
People-to-people contact could be
useful but not the final solution, he added.
On the sporting ties between the
two countries, Gen Musharraf said he would like these to resume. Describing
cricket as a "trivial issue" he said Pakistani players did not want to
play with India.
While admitting that Pakistan had
failed to evolve as a functioning democracy, President Musharraf expressed
regret over the referrendum, saying it was a "mistake."
On sending troops to Iraq he said
Pakistan was ready and would like to send the troops if asked.
He described as worrisome the recent
imposition of the Sharia law in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and
declared that he would intervene and dismiss the government if it moved
towards Talibanisation of the NWFP.
"I am for a moderate, progressive
and dynamic Islamic state," the General said.
UNI
