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Musharraf sees Clinton's stopover as vindication

Pakistani military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf sees US President Clinton's decision to have a brief top-over in Pakistan at the end of his India visit as a recognition of the correctness of Pakistan's stand on Kashmir.

In an interview with Newsweek, he said President Clinton was not going to mediate on Kashmir, but he could facilitate a dialogue between India and Pakistan.

When his attention was draw to his call for a jihad in Kashmir, he said, "Every Muslim around here is talking of jihad against India in Kashmir, because Kashmir is not India. It is a disputed territory."

Asked why, despite the fact Prime Minister A B Vajpayee went to Pakistan a year ago to seek peace, shortly thereafter Pakistan attacked at Kargil, Gen Musharraf said, "These are all excuses. They continue to use the past for not moving forward by addressing the main issue, Kashmir.''

The military ruler denied his being the architect of the attacks last May at Kargil and said, "A democratic government was in place. Whatever happened was the government's decision."

Gen Musharraf agreed that tensions between Pakistan and India were at an all-time high. There was too much tension on the Line of Control -- much more than before. But he did not think it would get out of control. "They know that there is a deterrence in place on our side," he added.

He said, "I give full assurance that no group on Pakistan's soil is involved in terrorism. These groups started in Afghanistan fighting the Russians. They are now in Kashmir. But there is no government support. I am taking a lot of actions to curb any group that tries to get involved in acts of terrorism. We have already issued an order banning the display of weapons. I have started to deweaponize Pakistan."

Asked about the radicals' reported links with the Inter Services Intelligence, he said, "My control of ISI is absolute and total. They are not running a government of their own. As for terrorism, are we talking of what is happening for the liberation of Kashmir? I define terrorism as hijacking, bomb blasts and killing civilians."

When it was pointed out that the US government has put the Pakistan-based group Harkat ul-Mujahiden on the US Terror List, Gen Musharraf said: "It is not a terrorist organization."

Asked if Pakistan could pressure the Taleban to turn over Osama bin Laden to the United States, Gen Musharraf said, ''The Taleban have their own reasons for allowing him sanctuary in Afghanistan. If anyone thinks we can order the Taleban around, he is wrong.''

On whether he could do anything about the terrorist-training camps in Afghanistan, he said, ''This is the area I would like to negotiate with the Taleban. The Taleban activity is being branded as terrorism, which it is not. But there may be groups there that are training to carry on militancy. That is where we need to crack down.''

When questioned if he had a timetable to return to democracy, Gen Musharraf said, ''We will return to democracy. I have not given a final timetable of withdrawing and allowing the civil sector to function because there are certain objectives to be achieved in the area of economic revival, improved law and order and accountability."

UNI

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