From the very beginning, India has been endeavoring to develop friendly relations. I went to Lahore with the hope that a new beginning would be made. We are neighbors, and we have to live together as friends or in an indifferent manner. My visit once again convinced me that the people of both countries, India and Pakistan, want to live in peace. Then came the Kargil. It was a rude shock to me. Now a proper climate has to be created for resuming talks. So long as cross-border terrorism is there and the hostile propaganda against India continues, no useful purpose will be served by having talks.
Politicians should really forget the past if a new beginning could be made for the future. But I don’t see any sign of a new beginning.
Messages are not necessary. What is necessary is action…
No more terrorism and a commitment that all problems, including Kashmir, will be solved by peaceful means.
No. There is no possibility. I completely rule out a nuclear war.
There is no role for any third party, however well intentioned. We would like to solve the problems bilaterally.
Unless it is recognized that Jammu and Kashmir [Indian-occupied Kashmir] is an integral part of India, there cannot be an enduring solution.
Some Pakistani officials posted in Katmandu [Nepal] were directly involved with the hijackers. The hijackers themselves had connections with Pakistan and its intelligence agencies.
Yes, that is what we had expected. The United States has condoned the military coup.
The matter is under discussion. We are evolving a consensus. We are a democracy, and on such important international issues we proceed on the basis of a consensus. What I said in the United Nations was that India would not stand in the way of the treaty being implemented. First, all the nations which matter the most have to sign the treaty. That has not happened as yet. The vote in the U.S. Senate [rejecting the treaty] came as a negative development so far as the people of India are concerned.
Because of the deteriorating security environment.
Yes. [Nuclear capability] is a deterrent. That is all that we wanted to have–a minimum credible nuclear deterrent. We have already declared that there will be no further tests. We have also announced that India will not be the first to use nuclear weapons. We will not use nuclear weapons against nonnuclear-weapon states either.
MUSHARRAF: I am extremely pleased that the president has finally decided to visit Pakistan. This is a recognition of the importance Pakistan has in the region, of the 52-year friendship we have with the U.S. and of the righteousness of our stand on Kashmir.
He has said he is not going to mediate on Kashmir, but [he can] facilitate a dialogue between India and Pakistan.
Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee went to Pakistan a year ago to seek peace, but shortly thereafter Pakistan attacked at Kargil.
These are all excuses. They continue to use the past for not moving forward by addressing the main issue, Kashmir.
No. A democratic government was in place. Whatever happened was the government’s decision.
Every Muslim around here is talking of jihad against India in Kashmir, because Kashmir is not India. It is a disputed territory.
Yes, there is too much tension on the Line of Control [the line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan]–much more than before.
I do not think it will get out of control. They know that there is a deterrence in place on our side.
I give full assurance that no group on Pakistan’s soil is involved in terrorism. These groups started in Afghanistan fighting the Russians. They are now in Kashmir. [But] there is no government support. I am taking a lot of actions to curb any group that tries to get involved in acts of terrorism. We have already issued an order banning the display of weapons. I have started to deweaponize Pakistan.
My control of ISI is absolute and total. They are not running a government of their own. As for terrorism, are we talking of what is happening for the liberation of Kashmir? I define terrorism as hijacking, bomb blasts and killing civilians.
It is not a terrorist organization.
The Taliban have their own reasons for allowing him sanctuary in Afghanistan. If anyone thinks we can order the Taliban around, he is wrong.
This is the area I would like to negotiate with the Taliban. The Taliban activity is being branded as terrorism, which it is not. But there may be groups there that are training to carry on militancy. That is where we need to crack down.
We will return to democracy. I have not given a final timetable of withdrawing and allowing the civil sector to function because there are certain objectives to be achieved in the area of economic revival, improved law and order and accountability.
We have to develop consensus. I cannot take action without the support of the people of Pakistan.
I would like them to know that we believe in democracy, [but] democracy in Pakistan was only artificial before [due to the corruption of previous leaders]. We intend to bring about democracy in its real essence.
Never.
