The Hindu : Ready to address India's concerns: Kasuri

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2003

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Ready to address India's concerns: Kasuri

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD June 3. The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, has said that Islamabad is seriously interested in a dialogue with India and is ready to address Indian concerns. The two countries should address each other's concerns, he said.

In an interview to an Indian TV network here today, Mr. Kasuri said, "we are seriously interested in dialogue. We have to address mutual concerns. Pakistan has to address India's concerns and India has to address Pakistan's concerns." He was responding to a question about India's concern on cross-border terrorism and the steps taken by Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf in banning militant groups last year.

Reminded about his statements in April this year about the closure of militant camps, Mr. Kasuri said, "those references I made were to camps for collection of funds. A lot of money was collected over the years and President Musharraf himself said the money was not properly used."

Reiterating that Pakistan was not in a position to stop infiltration even if it wanted and that it had no Alladdin's magic lamp, he said, "we are not in a position even if it is completely wanted because people are in suicide missions."

Asked if it amounted to an admission that the Pakistan army had failed to prevent infiltration, he said the Indian Army deployed 6 lakh troops, which amounted to placing a soldier every three metres. By the same logic the Indian Army too could be accused of failing to stop the infiltration, he argued.

Denying that he was a "puppet" in the present military-dominated political set-up, Mr. Kasuri said, "I had resigned from Parliament due to differences with (then) Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. If I disagree with President Musharraf, I would not stay in the Cabinet." Asked how much freedom he enjoyed as Foreign Minister on policy matters, he said the Prime Minister, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, and Gen. Musharraf had given him a free hand. He also denied that the army exerted pressure on politicians.

Mr. Kasuri was all praise for the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, for demonstrating what he termed "real leadership". "I absolutely believe that Prime Minister Vajpayee has demonstrated real leadership. He has shown much strength in the background of very provocative statements from his Ministers... I am quite happy with Vajpayee. His heart is in the right place."

On the perception in Pakistan that the Deputy Prime Minister. L.K. Advani, was a hardliner, Mr. Kasuri said the Indians should stop demonising Gen. Musharraf and likewise Pakistan too should stop demonising Mr. Advani.

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