Crisis of confidence

Sir, - This refers to Ms. Malini Parthasarathy's interview with Gen. Pervez Musharraf (TheHindu, Jan. 17). Pakistan's Chief Executive does not believe even in confidence-building measures which he brands efforts at sidelining the Kashmir ``dispute.'' Even so, he holds the Shimla agreement and the Lucknow declaration exercises belittling the importance of the Kashmir issue. However, he wants India to take him ``at face value'' and talk to him. After Kargil, how can Gen. Musharraf expect India to take him at face value without confidence-building measures being in place? India took Pakistan at face value on several occasions and got stabbed in the back. Nothing was more dangerous to India than military rule there in the past.

Strictly-speaking, Pakistan has no locus standi on Kashmir which fact Gen. Musharraf must realise. All its claims are illegal. He wants force to succeed there.

Regarding Ms. Parthasarathy's question on making the Line of Control an international boundary, it may be pointed out that our Parliament resolution holds the entire Kashmir an integral part of India. What is the LoC to Pakistan when it questioned its existence during the Kargil war?

A. Kalyanaraman,

Chennai

Sir, - In the first place, how can the military establishment be construed as legitimate when it rose to power through unfair and undemocratic means? How can the General be trusted when he himself has confirmed his role and that of the deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, in the Kargil intrusion? When the Indian Prime Minister and his officials were talking to their counterparts in Pakistan, reposing full faith in the erstwhile administration, did not the Kargil intrusion, which took place with the full knowledge of the powers that be, amount to a breach of trust?

V. S. Jayaraman,

Chennai

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