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Musharraf must give up 'all terrorism': Ackerman

T V Parasuram in Washington

Blaming Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for the current border standoff, prominent US Congressman Gary Ackerman said the Pakistani president must give up 'all terrorism' directed against India.

"Once again the world finds itself on the brink of war between two nuclear neighbours. And once again we find ourselves here because of actions, or lack thereof, by the Government of Pakistan," Gary Ackerman told a hearing of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives in Washington.

Ackerman, the former co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said Musharraf seems not to have learned the lesson of September 11 'that terrorism, any terrorism, is unacceptable'.

"If Pakistan wants to remain a member of the international coalition against terrorism, then support for terrorists in Kashmir must end -- completely and permanently.

"That means no more infiltration across the Line of Control, and no more terrorist training camps on Pakistani territory.

"This is the minimum that the United States should expect from our ally in the war on terror," he said.

Ackerman said Musharraf gave a speech in January that described his vision of Pakistan as a modern, moderate, secular and democratic state. A state that rejected terrorism and would not be used as a base for terrorist activity 'anywhere in the world'.

But no sooner did the international community hail him for his rejection of Islamic extremism than he reverted to form in attempting to describe the terrorist acts committed in India as those of 'freedom fighters'.

Apparently, his rejection of terror 'anywhere in the world' didn't include India, he said.

He said the US has already provided significant economic assistance to Pakistan for its help in war against terror.

"I think its time to make clear to General Musharraf that no further economic or military support will go to Pakistan if he continues to support militant organisations. At the very least no military assistance should go to Pakistan during the current crisis," he added.

"What concerns me the most is not that the administration won't deliver the right message, it's that the man on the receiving end of the message doesn't want to hear it or worse, intends to ignore it.

"Our experience so far is that he does not intend to call off Pakistan's support for the terrorists in Kashmir. But instead intends to continue to use violence in Kashmir to internationalise the issue and to push the international community to intervene on his behalf," he said.

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