The Hindu : It is India's turn to respond: Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 21, 2002

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It is India's turn to respond: Musharraf
By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 20. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has ruled out any more measures by his Government to defuse the tension due to mobilisation of troops on the border.

At a meeting of intellectuals in Lahore today, he said he did not see any reason for taking more measures unless India was prepared to respond to his peace overtures such as the hand of friendship he had extended to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, at the SAARC summit in Kathmandu. ``We have taken enough measures in our own national interest without any foreign pressure. Now it is India's turn to respond.''

Gen. Musharraf utilised the opportunity to explain his views on political restructuring, economic reforms and the role he intended to play in the future. He answered many questions, particularly on his statements about his indispensability to ensure continuation of the reforms.

He said the current military tensions could ease by May or June due to sustained efforts by the U.S. to bring about de-escalation. ``Our military strength has deterred India from attacking us and we have no problem in maintaining our forces on the borders in response to its deployment.''

He reiterated his resolve to eradicate extremism and sectarianism. He did not agree with a questioner that his Government was taking half-hearted measures against extremists. Denying any secret support to them, he warned clerics against using mosques to spread hatred.

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