Friday, Aug 02, 2002
Friday, Aug 02, 2002 |
| Front Page | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Front Page
By V. S. Sambandan
Asked about the Indian objection to internationalising the Kashmir issue, he said at a breakfast meeting with Sri Lankan editors "I think there is hypocrisy in their attitude. They juggle around with semantics of words. They do not want anyone to mediate, but they may be wanting interlocutors or facilitators. I think we are involved in this English language, which is not our mother-tongue in any case. The reality on the ground is, they are talking.'' Referring to the U.S. and British involvement, Gen. Musharraf asked "why is Colin Powell going there? What is Jack Straw doing when he comes here and talks? What are all these world powers and world personalities doing? They very much are talking of the dispute between India and Pakistan and they are talking of Kashmir. The U.S. is involved. Whether you call it mediating or interlocuting or facilitating or whatever, the Indian leaders talk to them on this issue.'' Expressing his hope for a resolution of the dispute through dialogue, Gen. Musharraf said "you use the English word yourself, whichever one, the fact of the matter is that there is a behind-the-scene interaction going on. Kashmir is internationalised because the whole world is concerned that this is a flashpoint with both states being nuclear.'' It was a "dangerous flashpoint because of the Kashmir dispute,'' he said, adding that "this realisation has come in and we hope this will lead to a resolution of the dispute.'' In his opening remarks, Gen. Musharraf said the full potential of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation "is not being realised'' because of the tensions between India and Pakistan. ``I would like to say, that at the moment, Pakistan and India relationship is, may be, at its lowest.'' Referring to the border situation, he hoped that "good sense prevails and de-escalation takes place.'' However, "de-escalation is not an end in itself.'' Though it "may bring peace temporarily," permanent peace could be attained only by "honouring'' the Security Council resolution on Kashmir and "initiating a process of dialogue. We hope that the world powers understand and facilitate this process of bringing peace to the region.'' It was also the view of Pakistan — which will chair the 2003 SAARC summit — that "no one member should be allowed to scuttle a summit. If any member does not want to attend, that is bad luck, but the summit must be held without that member.'' Gen. Musharraf also told the editors that "true democracy'' in Pakistan would be ushered in after the October elections. Asked if the former Pakistan Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, would be allowed to return, he said she had left the country of her own volition. She had been sentenced in two cases, for which she would have to face the proceedings. It was for her to make a choice, he said.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
