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US should be facilitator on Kashmir issue: Vajpayee

Dharam Shourie in New York

India sees the US as a 'facilitator', but will not accept it as a mediator in resolving Indo-Pak differences on Jammu and Kashmir, according to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who offered to resume talks with Pakistan if it fulfilled all its promises to end cross-border terrorism.

In an interview to the Newsweek magazine published in its latest issue, Vajpayee, when asked what should the US role be in the future on the Kashmir issue, said 'that of a facilitator'.

On whether the US emerged as a third party to help in settling the Kashmir issue, Vajpayee emphatically said 'no' and added 'that is why I said facilitator not a mediator'.

To a query when India would pull back troops, he said it would take some time. "Let us see what happens on the ground."

According to the magazine, Vajpayee laughed when asked if he thought Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is trustworthy and said, "We are prepared to deal with him as he is, but we are cautious this time. Our past experience is not very encouraging."

He said he was ready to meet Musharraf if the Pakistani general implemented all his promises.

"If Pakistan implements all the assurances given to us, then a new beginning can be made. India will be ready to have talks with Pakistan and discuss all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir," Vajpayee said.

He, however, said there is no change in Pakistan's policy so far as cross-border terrorism is concerned and 'everyday we are getting reports that infiltration is continuing'.

Vajpayee agreed that the United States followed the right policy in making Pakistan a partner in the war against terror, but said, "Pakistan should be pressurised to fight terror not only in Afghanistan but inside Pakistan itself."

Asked about Musharraf's promise to get rid of the terrorist training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Vajpayee said, "That was the promise. There are 50 to 70 terrorist-training camps in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and in Pakistan."

To a query when India would pull back troops, the Prime Minister said it would take some time. "Let us see what happens on the ground."

Replying to a question how close India was to waging a war Vajpayee said, "It was a touch-and-go affair...I did not rule out the possibility of war. Until the last minute, we were hoping wiser counsels would prevail."

Replying to another question, the prime minister said leadership of Al Qaeda which the United States has failed to capture 'may be in Pakistan'.

He said he thinks that Osama bin Laden is alive and that Pakistan knew his whereabouts.

To a question about the upcoming election in Kashmir, the Prime Minister said it would be 'free and fair' and ruled out granting autonomy to the state.

"This time election will be free and fair," Vajpayee said.

On whether autonomy was a long-term solution for Kashmir, the prime minister said, "We are for the devolution of power."

Terrorism Strikes in Jammu and Kashmir: The complete coverage

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