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Blair To Musharraf: Initiation of Dialogue Crucial
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| Complete Synergy |
By IOL correspondent in Islamabad, Aamir Latif
ISLAMABAD, Jan. 8 (IslamOnline) - British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who arrived in Pakistan from New Delhi Monday afternoon on the last leg of his visit to South Asia, laid emphasis on the initiation of dialogue between Pakistan and India for resolving the Kashmir dispute and addressing the issue of terrorism.
Both Blair and Pakistani President, General Pervez Musharraf, led their respective delegations during the formal talks which lasted for one and half hours and discussed the mounting tension between Pakistan and India and situation in Afghanistan in detail.
Later, addressing a press conference at Aiwan-i-Sadar along with Musharaff on Monday, the British Premier said that his Indian counterpart, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was willing to have "meaningful" and "comprehensive" dialogue with Pakistan exclusively on the basis of peaceful means.
"I also emphasized, to President Musharraf as I did to Prime Minister Vajpayee, the desire of the U.K. and the international community to see the current tensions reduced,” Blair said.
"We should be … clear that there should be a process of dialogue for the resolution of disputes such as Kashmir," Blair earlier told U.S. President, George W. Bush, in a phone conversation. He maintained that nobody should underestimate the difficulties in resolving issues like Kashmir, but added in the same breath, that the dangers of the escalation of tensions should also be kept in mind.
He hoped that a situation could be brought about which would allow de-escalation of the present tensions. "I hope and believe that both countries in these difficult times would understand the need to defeat terrorism and to resolve difficult issues through dialogue," he said. He added that it was in the interest of not just the two countries and its people but also the whole region and the wider world.
On a question whether Musharraf had given him any assurance to take further action against militant organizations, he pointed out that Musharraf had given a very clear statement rejecting any act of terrorism.
He recalled that Musharraf had stated that organization involved in terror acts had no place in any civilized society. "Terrorism is terrorism, wherever it occurs," Blair said earlier in his opening statement.
When asked point-blank whether those struggling for getting U.N. resolutions implemented were terrorists, he said no matter how strongly people felt about the issue of Kashmir and although they were entitled to that (struggle), there could be no place for acts of terrorism.
In the press conference, Musharraf termed his talks with Vajpayee in Nepal useful to the extent that the situation had not escalated further. He said the meeting had increased chances of initiating future dialogue.
In answer to a query about whether Pakistan would withdraw its forces from the Durand Line, Musharraf said Pakistan was fully conscious of its responsibilities on its western borders. However, he hoped the tension on the eastern borders would not rise to the level that troops from the western borders would have to be withdrawn.
Regarding measures that are being taken by the government to check militancy, he said a comprehensive plan had been hammered out to address this issue. He said he will unveil the plan in a televised address to the nation within the next few days.
He recalled that his government had acted against sectarian and extremist organizations much before the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. He pointed out that militant wings of two sectarian organizations had been banned August 14, 2001 and two others had been placed on a watch list.
When asked about his assessment of the chances of war between India and Pakistan, Musharraf said though there was a problem of trust and misunderstanding, there could be a way out provided that both sides were very clear on the condemnation of terrorism and that the difficult issue of Kashmir could only be resolved through dialogue.
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