Front Page

We can take offensive into Indian territory: Musharraf

By Sridhar Krishnaswam

Washington May 26. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has insisted that there is "nothing happening'' across the Line of Control (LoC) and has argued that while he would not like to imagine a nuclear showdown, his country was capable of taking the "offensive into the Indian territory''.

In extensive remarks to The Washington Post, Gen. Musharraf repeatedly maintained that there was "nothing happening'' across the LoC and demanded a response from New Delhi that included direct talks on all issues. "Well, I've always been saying that there is nothing happening across the LoC. And I've also said that Pakistan is a part of the coalition to fight terrorism. And we'll ensure that terrorism does not go from Pakistan anywhere outside into the world. That is our stand and we adhere to it.''

The Bush administration, incidentally, does not seem to subscribe to the view that there is "nothing happening'' across the LoC. The State Department, in the last few days, had been asking Islamabad pointedly to check infiltration into Kashmir as part of an overall process to reduce tensions and help get the dialogue started.

Gen. Musharraf said his country wanted "neutral observers'' to watch what was happening. "We cannot allow Indians to be the judges because they are a party. Therefore, any neutral monitors are more than welcome. We have been saying that many times''.

He demanded that reciprocation from India should go beyond de-escalation. "Reciprocation, we mean, is de-escalation, initiation of a dialogue process, reduction of atrocities within Kashmir... as a first step, the military should leave the towns and cities of Kashmir and be on the outskirts... We want reciprocation on these lines. And then... a useful process on normalisation, in its entirety, between India and Pakistan, can proceed,'' he said.

The Pakistan President asserted that everything that happened in Kashmir got thrown back to Pakistan in the name and context of cross-border terrorism. "Every time they (meaning India) manage to get people, and they kill them and arrest them, and they say they are ISI agents and Pakistanis. Now the issue of Jammu, or Parliament or the bomb attack on Parliament and Calcutta, these are condemnable because there were civilians who have been killed, and I call them terrorist acts... But let's have proof. Let us have evidence, if there is anyone involved here who we'd like to move against.''

He slammed India for not wanting to see the ground realities in Kashmir and wanting to destabilise "me, my government and Pakistan''. "They have their own agenda on Kashmir. They don't want to see the realities in Kashmir where not one man would like to be with India... They want to isolate Kashmir and then crush whatever is happening with force... their second aim is to destabilise me, my Government and Pakistan. Destabilise us economically and politically and diplomatically. This is what they want to achieve,'' Gen. Musharraf told The Post.

Asked under what circumstances he would consider using nuclear weapons if a war were to erupt between India and Pakistan, Gen. Musharraf referred to what has been generally said in the media and elsewhere of India's superiority, punishing Pakistan by going across the border and of deadlines given to Islamabad. "Let me tell you that we don't accept this kind of gimmick. Pakistan is no Iraq. India is no United States. We have forces. They follow a strategy of deterrence. And we are very capable of deterring them. And in case that deterrence fails, we are very capable of an offensive defence.'' Gen. Musharraf pointed out that should anything happen across the LoC, hundreds of thousands of people would be mobilised, including some 150,000 retired army soldiers, in Kashmir.

"So such dynamics will be unleashed if they ever attempt to cross the LoC which may be even I may not be able to control. And Mr. Vajpayee must know these realities.''

On when he would consider using nuclear weapons, Gen. Musharraf remarked, "really don't think we will ever reach that stage and I only hope that we — I hope and pray that we will never reach that stage. It's too unthinkable''

Towards the end of the interview, Gen. Musharraf is asked if the U.S. could help "more'' than in the past given the role in that part of the world. The Pakistani President's response hardly comes as a surprise.

"They're the only ones who can help. They must help. They can bring normality here. They must resolve this dispute. And they must ensure balance in the region... India does not want to give up its domineering and hegemonistic attitude... we don't want to submit. ,'' he said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• We should have responded after December 13: PM
• 5 killed in shelling
• We can take offensive into Indian territory: Musharraf
• Hoax call
• Step up diplomatic pressure: India
• Show results, Bush tells Musharraf
• Pak. test-fires another missile
• Bank staff plan stir
• Party expels Deuba
• Inflation static
• No arms embargo on India and Pakistan, says U.K.
• 9 Gujarat riot accused held

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu