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From The Hindu 9/March/2009

The former Pakistan President, General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf, arrives at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi on Sunday.

 

NEW DELHI: The former Pakistan President, General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf warned of many more Kargils and Siachens if the Kashmir issue was left unresolved.

At times ducking questions at the India Today Conclave on Saturday night, he was also emphatic and agitated, especially when asked whether the present Army chief General Pervez Kayani was correct that the Taliban was Pakistan’s strategic asset. But Gen. Musharraf only nodded when a Parliamentarian ticked him off after he listed their “ill treatment” as a factor bedevilling India-Pakistan relations. “Aapki nasihat ki zaroorat nahi [We don’t require your counsel],” he was told by Lok Sabha Member Mehmood Madani.

He did not want to comment on Kargil as it was a very sensitive issue but went on to observe that Siachen and Kargil were linked to the Kashmir issue and warned that if the “story went on” there would be more Kargils and Siachens.

Gen. Musharraf blamed “some forces behind the scene” for twice sabotaging an agreement in 2001 that would have formed the basis of durable peace. “The draft of the declaration was done at the highest level – me, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Jaswant Singhji. We did that draft. Unfortunately, some forces behind the scene sabotaged that. We attempted twice.”

The former Army chief denied that the Taliban could be a force multiplier for Pakistan. “This is a lie. He [Gen. Kiyani] cannot say that. I challenge them to show me the proof. His words have been distorted. How can we say something we don’t believe in?”

There was no danger of the Taliban taking over Pakistan politically because it was confined to a very small part of the country.

Not responding to a question about terrorist camps in Pakistan, Gen. Musharraf felt both sides had done “damage to each other” and was aware of “what the Indian Embassy is doing in Jalalabad and Kandahar. A terrorist from Kabul has been received by Indian intelligence agencies in India and looked after. I have documents to show this. Let us stop the blame game. India is a big country. You try to do damage to us, we will do damage to you.”

The audience laughed when the former President said he did not know if Dawood Ibrahim lived in Pakistan but felt an individual like him was a small issue and his repatriation would not improve bilateral ties.

Speaking at a function organised by industrialists on Sunday, Gen. Musharraf restricted himself to the realm of economics. In keeping with his desire, the general was shown around the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort later in the evening.

At a function organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, he regretted that South and Central Asia were out of the loop of economic progress because of the India-Pakistan conflict. “I am a strong believer that we must resolve all our disputes and then have intra-regional cooperation at the SAARC level and inter-regional cooperation between South Asia and Central Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.”

“It has always been my belief for Pakistan to act as a trade and energy corridor. This will be realised if we resolve our disputes and start an era of harmony, peace and friendship,” he added.

We are so tired,here is the healing.We in the Muslim world are tired of bloodshed and trials of our faith and Democracy.Obama may be tries to understand us but is it the healing?
Can obama make the world a safer place? Yes he can.

I think Obama team has made a very difficult and delicate policy. It clearly reflects the basic principal which was the punch line of Obama’s inauguration speech to Islamic World, unclench your fist. He has taken huge risks, the policy is delicate as he has put trust into Afghanistan and Pakistan ,he has taken back some names from the Terrorist suspect list of United Nations which was issued at Bush time. He is giving a fresh start to these people. It is good that he has included Iran, China and Saudi Arabia into this new policy. He has not only put his trust but he has promised money to rebuild the society by building schools, education and to improve basic infra structure. There is nothing more Obama can do. I hope Pakistan and Afghanistan take this opportunity to deal with the situation as last chance. It seems Obama has taken into consideration not only his team member’s opinion but the feed back from the real grounds. If this policy failed than as well USA has nothing to loose, USA will have safe exit .It means maybe still there will be Terror threat to United States but they will try to improve their home security rather than spending money in Afghanistan. More or less Afghanistan is in the same situation as was at the times of first Afghan War. I hope some if a moderate government is established in Afghanistan the situation can improve rapidly. Pakistan and Afghansitan must know this is the last chance to improve the situation. Distribution and use of funds should be channelled, monitored and work must be done at root grass levels. If it means all the army officers have to monitor it themselves they must. USA and Pakistan must take bolder and stronger actions on grounds, so that the message that people who wish to spread anarchy would not be tolerated is heard by the tribal belts loud and clear. It will weak the grass root support for Anarchists and the hope is they will melt down and disappear knowing that giving up arms is the only way forward. I truly and sincerely hope this works .There are no more life lines after this.