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Musharraf willing to address India's concerns
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, at a press conference in Islamabad on Monday. - AFP
ISLAMABAD, JAN. 7. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, gave enough indications here tonight that he was willing to address the concerns of the international community and India on militancy in his country, when he declared unequivocally that Pakistan rejected terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
Addressing a joint press conference with the visiting British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the Pakistan President promised to unveil soon a `complete plan' to deal with extremism and sectarian violence in his country.
Despite the categorical tone and tenor of Gen. Musharraf's statement, Mr. Blair delivered a blunt message and said that the international community expected him to take action against five militant groups for their `actions'. The British Prime Minister did not specify the groups.
Gen. Musharraf, significantly, in his comments did not link the Kashmir issue and terrorism. He complained about the `dangerous military build-up and belligerent statements' from the Indian side, in contrast to the `restraint' from Pakistan and talked about the urgent need to de-escalate the tension and begin the peace process.
Mr. Blair repeatedly made a specific reference to the October 1 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and the December 13 attack on the Parliament House and emphasised that Pakistan should denounce all such incidents in categorical terms.
He asserted that there can be no justification for acts like those on October 1 and December 13. He said the international community expected Islamabad to arrest the leaders responsible for such acts, in consonance with the resolutions of the United Nations.
In response to a specific question on what more steps his Government contemplated in the crackdown on the jehadis, Gen. Musharraf said he soon intended to address the people of Pakistan on a total plan. He claimed that Pakistan had been acting against religious extremists and sectarian outfits even before September 11 and cited his banning on August 14 two sectarian outfits.
List being `analysed'
Answering a question about the demand made by India for extradition of 20 persons accused of committing acts of terror and currently taking shelter in Pakistan, he said his Government was in the process of `analysing' the list and would take a decision. He also talked of the need for evidence against each of the persons mentioned in the list.
Mr. Blair disclosed that he had spoken to the United States President, George W. Bush, earlier in the day and they were in agreement that there was no scope for terror incidents like October 1 and December 13 and India and Pakistan would have to sit across the table for a meaningful dialogue process for resolution of the Kashmir issue.
Asked whether it was the people of Kashmir or the Indian Government that was guilty of acts of terrorism, Mr. Blair said ``I don't think anything justifies what happened on October 1 and December 13. People confuse political causes. I am aware how strongly people here feel about Kashmir. The only real way forward for resolution of the problem is through meaningful dialogue''.
Mr. Blair said that in his talks in New Delhi, the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, informed him that India was willing to hold a dialogue with Pakistan on the ``basis of exclusive peaceful means''. Mr. Blair said that after his visit he was convinced both countries favoured de-escalation of tensions.
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