International

Pak. status has risen: Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD APRIL 10. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has claimed that the "bold and clear-cut foreign policy" of his Government had won his country a new international status.

``Not long ago, Pakistan was being perceived as a terrorist country, and now it is recognised as a frontline state in the international fight against the menace of terrorism'', he told a rally at Bannu as part of his referendum campaign.

H said the mass participation by people in the referendum would bring an end to political instability in the country and discourage the negative elements. "Your vote in the referendum will end political uncertainty in the country and discourage the disgruntled elements who are trying to subvert the progress of Pakistan for their own vested interests.''

In an interview to the French daily, Le Figaro, Gen. Musharraf said Indian democracy was "just a bluff'' and suspected the hand of the Al-Qaeda or India behind the recent kidnapping and the murder of the U.S. journalist, Daniel Pearl, and the subsequent grenade attack on a church in Islamabad.

In the interview published on April 8, and released by the official news agency, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Gen. Musharraf said that India did not want Pakistan to succeed. "While the Pakistan economy is in the process of taking a new start, reviving terrorism is a good means of dissuading foreign firms from investing in Pakistan,'' he said.

On the communal riots in Gujarat, Gen. Musharraf said: "India is proud of proclaiming itself the largest democracy in the world but there is no society as intolerant as the Indian." Hindus attacked not only Muslims but they also targeted Sikhs, Christians, and the untouchable, he said, adding, "Indian democracy is just a bluff.''

The objective of the proposed referendum in Pakistan was to establish true democracy. "This election through referendum will confirm that the people want me. It will reinforce me politically and on the other hand, it will weaken my opponents''.

Asked about him holding the portfolios of President as well as of head of the armed forces, Gen. Musharraf said his objective was a balance of powers. "To consolidate democracy, I need two forces: that which comes from the army and that which comes from the people.''

For 12 years, the Pakistani army remained in the barracks. It let politicians handle the country without ever interfering in their affairs. But the result was that "Pakistan found itself on the brink of bankruptcy. Politicians had ruined democracy. The army has saved the country.''

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