Search the Internet          Tips

Musharraf may not control all militants: Armitage

T V Parasuram in Washington

United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage has said that though Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf can do much to control infiltration of terrorists across the border into India, he may not have actual control of all the militants.

"Well, he can certainly do a lot, and I believe our Indian colleagues are seeing the Pakistani authorities doing much more now. The question whether he has control of all of the people who would wish India ill and would want to cause mischief is an open one. I think no one believes he actually controls all of it," Armitage told NBC's Today show in an interview on Tuesday.

The deputy secretary of state said he did not believe that Musharraf would again open the doors to cross-border terrorism once the tensions subside.

"President Musharraf has embarked on an attempt to bring Pakistan and 154 million people into a better way of life, and he can't simultaneously do that and be engaged in terror in Kashmir," Armitage said.

On the possibility of a dialogue between Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Armitage said he has talked to them about their 'previous sitting down face-to-face, and at some time in the future, I think they would be willing to'.

"We did discuss the necessity of a dialogue over Kashmir. I think if the tensions continue to lower, clearly there will be a time when it is ripe for dialogue," he said.

Terrorism Strikes in Jammu: The complete coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report