Musharraf underlines the K word

While he underscored the importance of confidence-building measures and the Indo-Pak composite dialogue process moving in tandem, Pak Presid...

While he underscored the importance of confidence-building measures and the Indo-Pak composite dialogue process moving in tandem, Pak President General Pervez Musharraf kept underlining the K-word, warning that ‘‘things would slide back to square one’’ if there was ‘‘no movement towards resolution’’ of the Kashmir issue.

Addressing the India Today Conclave live via satellite, Musharraf said that Kashmir lay at the heart of the Indo-Pak confrontation and its resolution would pave a way for greater economic and trade ties between the two countries.

On the threat of terrorism to the peace process, he said: ‘‘We should negotiate peace as if there are no extremists…and deal with extremists boldly and firmly as if there was no peace process on.’’

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Alluding to the ‘‘low Intensity conflicts’’ and suicide bombing, Musharraf described that as a new and lethal weapon of a terrorist or a freedom fighter. The definition, he said, depended on which side one was looking from. He reiterated that Pakistan was categorical in its assertions that it will not export terrorism and added that militancy would be rooted out if Afghanistan and Kashmir were resolved.

While the Pakistan President appeared amenable to broaden the scope for more Indo-Pak CBMs including mutual reduction of armed forces, he linked the issue with the composite dialogue. ‘‘It is not possible for the CBMs to be cantering, while the composite dialogue goes at a snail’s pace,’’ he said.

He, however, made it clear that Pakistan was committed to the Islamabad joint statement in letter and spirit. But, for the majority of his speech, Kashmir was on his mind.

He said: ‘‘Let us be pragmatic. Let us learn to accept harsh facts. Kashmir is at the centrestage of Indo-Pak relations and has to be settled in an equitable and honourable way acceptable to India, Pakistan and Kashmiris.’’

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Making it clear that the Kashmir issue could not be sidelined or ignored, Musharraf said that Indians may think that he was unifocal on Kashmir but no leader in Pakistan could sideline the issue and that Kashmiris must join the peace process at some stage to make the solution practical.

Asked to comment on democracy in Pakistan, Musharraf was visibly perturbed. Every country has its own environment, he argued, and Pakistan, too, had its elections.