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Act tough on terrorism, Bush tells Musharraf
By Sridhar Krishnaswami
WASHINGTON, JAN. 8. The United States President, George W. Bush, has characterised the situation in South Asia as ``still serious'' and called on the Pakistan leader, Pervez Musharraf, to take a tougher stand against terrorism.
``I think it is very important for President Musharraf to make a clear statement to the world that he intends to crack down on terror. And I believe that if he does that and continues to do what he's doing, it'll provide relief, pressure relief, on a situation that's still serious,'' Mr. Bush said at the White House on Monday following a meeting of his economic team.
``I don't believe the situation is defused yet but I do believe there is a way to do so and we are working hard to convince both the Indians and the Pakis there's a way to deal with their problems without going to war,'' he said.
The Bush administration, while following the situation in South Asia intensely, has been leaning on Islamabad and its leadership to do more on the issue of terrorism even while appreciating what Gen. Musharraf has done thus far and in asking New Delhi to take note of the steps put in place by the Pakistan President.
The State Department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said the U.S. believed that Gen. Musharraf was committed to dismantling militant groups which were a threat to Pakistan and its neighbours.
``We note that there have been more arrests over the weekend... and that we understand that President Musharraf intends to continue to speak out against extremism and terrorism and to try to set Pakistan on a course of moderation,'' he added.
The State Department expressed concern that the Indian and Pakistani armies were exchanging fire in Kashmir as also over reports that an unmanned aircraft might have been shot down. ``We are concerned about firing along the Line of Control in Kashmir. We have seen conflicting claims about this drone aircraft being shot down, but I don't have anything to offer on that matter'', Mr. Boucher said.
On the recently-concluded SAARC summit in Kathmandu, he said it had provided an opportunity for the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan to have some discussions. ``And that, coupled with greetings from the Presidents and whatever brief words that they exchanged, we felt was useful. We're pleased that the representatives of the two sides can meet and talk. We recognise that no breakthroughs were achieved there,'' he added.
The State Department had on Monday played down the notion that Washington was sending a ``special envoy'' or ``emissary'' to the region. Saying that a final decision on the matter had not been made, Mr. Boucher said, ``Let's just call it a visit to the region by a senior U.S. official, is still a matter under consideration. It remains a possibility.''
PTI reports:
In an apparent rejection of Gen. Musharraf's attempt to distinguish between terrorism and ``freedom struggle'' in Kashmir, the U.S. has made it clear that any killing of innocent people for political end is terrorism.
``We all know that killing innocent people for political ends is terrorism. That is what we are opposed to,'' Mr. Boucher said simplifying the definition of terrorism and avoiding any ambiguity.
``We understand that Musharraf intends to continue to speak out against extremism and terrorism, and to try to set Pakistan on a course of moderation,'' he said adding that Washington had noted that more militants had been arrested over the weekend in Pakistan.
Supporting the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's visit to the region, Mr. Boucher said, ``Blair has been encouraging a reduction of terrorism, a reduction of tension, in his meetings with Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf, and we fully support those efforts.''
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