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Clinton to be asked to help resolve Kashmir issue: CE

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf told newsmen on Thursday that he would ask President Clinton to assist in bringing peace to the region by addressing the core issue between India and Pakistan.

At his press conference the Chief Executive was asked what message he would give to President Clinton during his talks here on Saturday. The General said that they would have to talk about a lot of things. "We want peace in the region, but no peace is possible. I will very frankly tell him that to bring peace, the core issue has to be resolved."

Answering on another question, Gen Musharraf said that India always says that the issue should be resolved bilaterally but never engages in serious discussion. He said he thinks the US could play some background role in resolving the dispute to end the increasing atrocities on the people, violations of human rights and state terrorism.

Jihad in Kashmir: Asked for comments on being accused by Indians of reviving Jihad, General Musharraf said that the concept of jihad was revived by the US during the Soviet attack on Afghanistan. It was then that many foreigners from Egypt, Sudan, and other countries joined the jihad which is an obligation if the Muslims are being suppressed. The Afghan jihad continued for 10 years and was not checked at that time. He said he had never said that the Kashmir struggle was a jihad. It is only independent organisations and individuals who call it so. He further recalled that during his visit to Bosnia, he met a number of Mujahideen fighting against the Serbs. Among them were two Indian Muslims and one Pakistani. To say that he revived the concept of Kashmir was a disinformation against him by vested interest, he said.

Killing of Sikhs: To a question, General Musharraf strongly discarded the Indian allegation that Pakistan was involved in the killing of Sikhs in Kashmir. "We totally condemn this barbaric act. Pakistan is for a thorough inquiry at the highest level into this incident. Evidence is growing that the Indian troops in uniform perpetrated this crime.

Signing of CTBT: The General told a questioner that he had not committed to sign the (CTBT) Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. "There is neither any pressure nor any hurry to sign it. No early decision is proposed to be taken. CTBT is an issue which every Pakistani should study in context of pros and cons. There should be a national consensus on it," he said.