Peoples, Governments want Peace in Sub-Continent: Musharraf
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday said progress towards peace with India is irreversible as people of both the countries have overtaken their governments and the leaders in their desire that peace and harmony may prevail in the Sub-Continent.

In an interview with CNN telecast Saturday, he said, "I say this because people have overtaken their governments and leaders. The people have got involved and they showed desire and wish that the peace and harmony may prevail in the Sub-Continent and therefore I say it is irreversible and all leaders will have to push it forward because peoples force is behind it."

Replying to a question about Kashmir, he said the solution has to be worked out but that has to be acceptable most of all to the people of Kashmir besides Pakistan and India. "We have to deal with it sincerely so that we are not bluffing each other. We have to do it with flexibility."

Degree of Flexibility

The President said every one of us has to step back and for that a degree of flexibility and boldness and courage is required because extremists will create obstacles on all sides. He said there was no doubt about the areas to be negotiated. "This is what I have been saying," he added.

The President said the identified areas, mutually acceptable to all, have to be demilitarized to give comfort to the people. The people are suffering at the hands of large amounts of forces that are deployed there.

India claims that terrorism is going on while Pakistan stance is that there is a freedom struggle going on. So all this can be resolved if there are no forces and the people of Kashmir themselves look after their own security, he said.

Withdrawal of Troops

Replying to a question about the return of soldiers to barracks on both side of the Line of Control, President Musharraf said if it is mutually agreed the soldiers can return to the barracks. The Indian troops on the LoC are about five times more than Pakistani troops. So this can be mutually agreed and what I have been saying, "We must demilitarize the area to give comfort to the people."

To a question about how his idea is received in India, the President said, "I think it is received well." He said it was premature to discuss the next steps. He said the media and the people should be allowed to discuss the options, "So that we can learn from them. If we show our cards now, may be it will derail the process before it is initiated," he said.

Osama Bin Laden

Talking about why Osama Bin Laden had not been caught so far, the President said Osama's whereabouts were not clear. May be still he is in the mountains on borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan."

He said the area is extremely mountainous and very inaccessible. It is, with high mountains between 9,000 to 15,000 feet high. There is also no communication infrastructure. "We are developing communication infrastructure now", the President said adding "as so much time has passed, he may have left the area."

To a question about Pakistan's operation in the Tribal Areas, President Pervez Musharraf said, "I think it was extremely effective.' Pakistan moved into South Waziristan because Al-Qaeda men had their bases and we moved against them.

Proliferation Issue

On the question of Pakistan's handling of proliferation issue, President Pervez Musharraf said, the issue related to the proliferation is clear to all governments. The state is not involved. Dr. A.Q. Khan was involved as an individual. "He proliferated but the state is not involved. This is very clear to every one".

President Pervez Musharraf said there should be no doubting Pakistan's capability and its intentions. "We have given out all the intelligence information that we have extracted from A.Q. Khan. We have also said whenever an additional piece of information comes; do tell us, we will cooperate all the way." He said the IAEA cannot do a better job in interrogating than Pakistan.

Attempts on Life

Replying to a question about the two assassination attempts on his life, President Pervez Musharraf said, these had not restricted his freedom in a meaningful manner.

He said, "I still go around, travel all around the country and also do whatever I feel like. So I haven't allowed this to restrict me because I believe nothing can be done about it. So while we do take security measures, I don't think one should become a hermit. I don't believe in that kind of a security that you don't do anything that you ought to be doing."

He said the other issue is that we succeeded in breaking the back of the terrorists. Therefore we have a certain degree of confidence that may be these terrorist do not have that kind of capability as they used to have before.

Educational Reforms

To a question about educational reforms in the country the President termed them most important. "I think quality of human resource development in the long run is the major factor for progress of a nation."

He said Pakistan is approaching education from that point of view and a very holistic view of education is being taken. He said the literacy level is very low and needs to be enhanced through universalizing education and through adult literacy as quality primary and secondary education is very poor.

The Government has modified the examination system and introduced new teachers training programmes. Madrassas (Religious Schools) are being encouraged to teach all other subjects besides religion and take examinations of normal boards so that students studying there join the mainstream of life.

Shortest Route

Talking about its geographic location, President Musharraf said Pakistan provides the shortest route to the countries around. The land locked Central Asian Republics are also looking to have access to the world. Their route is through Pakistan. India is looking towards dealing with Afghanistan and with Central Asian Republics for having access and their route is through Pakistan.

President Musharraf said, "India is interested in getting gas from Iran for which the route is through Pakistan. This is our geo-strategic significance. So our geo-strategic significance can't be reduced. We need to realize that we have understood that and therefore we have constructed a new port at Gwadar which is at the mouth of the Gulf almost".

Pakistan is constructing road and rail communication infrastructure linking Afghanistan, Central Asia and China. Pakistan has become hub of all economic interaction in this region.

To another question he said he had faced all the dangers, risks and the problems but he considered himself fortunate being at a time and place where he could do something for the nation, the region, the Islamic world and the world at large.

The Objectives

The President said his actions are dictated for the betterment of Pakistan, its progress and prosperity of its people. That is his first legacy he would like to leave. He said his second legacy is for the region. He said South Asia and the Central Asia are the two regions which are not cooperating for economic prosperity. They are not linked with East Asia which is cooperating and going forward on economic growth.

He said he wanted intra-regional and inter-regional cooperation within the region for mutual benefits. Talking about the Muslim Ummah, President Musharraf said Pakistan being an important part of the Muslim world, wanted to contribute to the emancipation and the socio-economic development of the Muslim world.

Enlightened Moderation

He said, "If at all one can contribute towards bringing stability, harmony into the world that is what he had done by propounding the idea of Enlightened Moderation."

"I am very fortunate that I have the opportunity being located at a place and being at a time at the helm of affairs where I can contribute," President Pervez Musharraf concluded.

Normalization of Indo-Pak Ties

And while talking to Indonesia's leading English language daily 'The Jakarta Post' Musharraf said on Saturday that a major step has been taken in the normalization of Pakistan-India relations as the two South Asian nations have decided to solve their outstanding disputes in an amicable manner. He said that the two sides would also further promote confidence building measures.

The two countries should build on the CBMs that "have already been initiated, in a spirit of sincerity and flexibility and boldness because there are extremists on both sides that want to delay the process."

During President Musharraf's substantive discussions with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last weekend, they agreed to take forwad talks on resolving more than half a century old Jammu and Kashmir dispute, a decision which drew worldwide welcome.

Kashmir Bus Service

With regard to the resumption of Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus services in Kashmir, the President said such steps need to be encouraged.

"In fact we have even proposed new routes to be explored, a truck service to be initiated to facilitate trade and even increasing the frequency of the services," he said and added, "These are the areas we will look into in the future."

Responding to a question about the recent development in China-India relations, President Musharraf said it would not affect Pakistan-China relationship. Islamabad, he said, does not want to base its relationship on individual relationship with other countries.

"We look at our own bilateral interests and I don't think there is any difference in the bilateral interests between China and Pakistan, as our relationship with China will carry on from strength to strength, irrespective of the Chinese contact with India."●