Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
VAJPAYEE: There has been no change in Pakistan’s policy so far as cross-border infiltration is concerned. Every day we are getting reports that infiltration [by militants into Kashmir] continues unabated.
That was the promise. There are 50 to 70 terrorist-training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and in Pakistan.
[Laughs] We are prepared to deal with him as he is, but we are cautious this time. Our past experience is not very encouraging.
Is this just a pause between crises?
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.
If his promises are implemented.
It will take some time. Let us see what happens on the ground.
It was a touch-and-go affair… I did not rule out the possibility of war. Until the last minute we were hoping that wiser counsels would prevail.
No, it was the right policy. Pakistan should be pressured to fight terror not only in Afghanistan but inside Pakistan itself.
They may be in Pakistan.
Yes.
Of course.
Not every movement, but broadly speaking, they know where the rest of Al Qaeda and the Taliban are.
The terrorist organizations operating in Kashmir are closely linked to Al Qaeda and other “Jihadi” organizations directly supported and directed by Pakistan.
The elections will be held under the supervision of the Central Election Commission. We have made a commitment that the elections will be free and fair.
This time elections will be free and fair.
We are for the devolution of power.
That of a facilitator.
No, that’s why I said a facilitator, not a mediator.
Pakistan: Gen. Pervez Musharraf
MUSHARRAF: First of all, I don’t call it cross-border terrorism. There is a freedom struggle going on in Kashmir. What I said is that there is no movement across the Line of Control.
I’ve told President Bush nothing is happening across the Line of Control. This is the assurance I’ve given. I’m not going to give you an assurance that for years nothing will happen. We have to have a response from India, a discussion about Kashmir. If you want a guarantee of peace in this region, there are three ways: (1) denuclearize South Asia; (2) ensure a conventional deterrence so that war never takes place in the Subcontinent; (3) find a solution to the Kashmir problem.
Our Army is enough for deterrence at the moment. But the Indians are increasing their defense budget, having contracted billions of dollars of purchases from Russia and the West. If they tilt the conventional balance, we shall have to restore it.
It was very close. As far as Pakistan was concerned, we said we will not initiate a war, but if attacked, we will defend offensively.
We would have taught them a lesson. This is not a small country; this is not Afghanistan.
No. We didn’t talk about it.
This is certainly a turning point for the good. I have an assurance: I have been told by President Bush and Deputy Secretary Armitage that, yes, [India] needs to move forward on the initiation of a dialogue on Kashmir. So we are looking for a response from India.
That is just not possible. If the Line of Control is to be the border, what have we fought these two wars for, 1965 and 1971?
That is how they keep maligning us. If they are hiding somewhere, we are trying to locate them. Pakistan has arrested over 300 people and handed them over. I cannot say we have freed Pakistan from Al Qaeda. But [top Qaeda operative] Abu Zubaydah was caught by us. Whether Al Qaeda is within our borders or in the tribal areas or in the cities, we will not allow it here.
One possibility is Al Qaeda. The other is RAW-related [Indian intelligence]. RAW does a lot of anti-Pakistan activity within Pakistan. So many bomb blasts have been taking place. Who is brewing this? Obviously, they are RAW-inspired. They [the Indians] don’t like us getting close to the U.S. They thought after September 11 that Pakistan would be declared a terrorist state.
Certainly, I get a lot of threats. But I’m not scared. I take principled stands, whether it is an external or internal threat. Now I’m facing both. Obviously, I am stepping on the toes of a lot of people.
I think the U.S. is the only country which can persuade India to initiate a dialogue and move towards a solution of Kashmir. Bilateralism hasn’t worked.
Critics say you are not cracking down very hard on Pakistani fundamentalists.
About 660 extremists are still behind bars. Their parties are banned. Their leaders are behind bars.
I can’t say the law-and-order situation is excellent. They have their sympathizers. We have to find out who is doing these bomb attacks.
We will have elections in October, though we have the most democratic system now, a functional democracy. All the democratically elected governments here have been autocratic. I am a dictator, all right, because I am not elected. But I think my functioning is most democratic.
