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Kashmir issue cannot be sidelined: Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD June 17. On the eve of his departure of a four-nation tour, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, asserted that while Islamabad was willing to talk with India on all issues, the Kashmir issue could not be sidelined.

In an interview to a private television channel, Geo, Gen. Musharraf said: "There is no doubt that Kashmir is still the core issue between India and Pakistan. I am not 100 per cent sure. Talks should take place. They are moving very slowly. They need to move faster, they can move faster. Whether we move forward on Kashmir, we will see, time will tell."

"The problem with India is that they are too conscious of their large size and they believe in coercing their neighbours. They want to dictate terms to us. They want to dictate their version of a solution. We will not take that. We will not compromise on our sovereign equality... We will take three steps if they take one, but let them not treat us like any small country around. We are a powerful nation."

On India's reported decision to set up a number of consulates in Afghanistan, Gen. Musharraf said that it had nothing to do with promotion of economic ties. The only objective of Indian presence in Afghanistan was to "harm" Pakistan.

He had taken up the matter with the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, and Mr. Karzai assured him that the Afghan soil would not be allowed to be used against Pakistan.

Amid these utterances of the General, a Western diplomat said: "By taking a hard-line and reacting to the supposedly Advani statements, Gen. Musharraf is only making it difficult for the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee."

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I was quoted out of context: Musharraf

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