The Hindu : We have to go step by step: Jamali

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 16, 2003

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We have to go step by step: Jamali

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD MAY 15. The Pakistan Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, has said that he is convinced about the seriousness of the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in taking forward the peace initiative, but at the same time warned of moves by "hawks" on both sides to derail the process.

In an interview to BBC Asia, Mr. Jamali said that "I wish we had the videophones for myself and the Indian Prime Minister so we could see each other's gestures and figures but I felt so and I think he is serious. Peace should come in. Both countries should develop''.

Mr. Jamali said if the efforts for resolution of differences between India and Pakistan succeeded, history could be created. "And I think this is how it looks. This is how I see it at the moment".

On India's charges of infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC), he said it was a "very porous" border and it was impossible for any country to completely seal the border. "The same problem continues even after 9/11 between Afghanistan and Pakistan. No country is in a position to seal of the border altogether.

``With the might that India has, they can't seal it off, how can we in Pakistan at a lesser level seal it? There are people, there are volunteers... at times you just try to talk to people to put some sense into them. But they are not bound by Pakistan".

He said India and Pakistan should take measured steps leading to talks.

"You cannot jump up and start talks at once. There needs to be step-by-step measures, which have to be taken. They said a few things. We have said a few things and the talks could start at the `best' time possible," he said.

Asked how flexible Pakistan would be during talks, he said "either we convince India on our principles or they convince us on theirs.

``This can only happen through dialogue and you cannot fight wars... This is the point I want to emphasise".

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