Posted on 05/26/2002 5:03:55 AM PDT by Ranger
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was quoted on Sunday as saying the infiltration of Islamic terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir had stopped.
The Washington Post also quoted General Musharraf as saying in an interview on Saturday that if deterrence failed, "We are very capable of an offensive defence. ... These words are very important. We'll take the offensive into Indian territory."
Pakistan conducted its second missile test in as many days on Sunday, ignoring calls to abandon a series of launches that has stoked tension with India and raised fears of war between the nuclear-armed rivals.
The Post said that in the interview, Musharraf rejected criticism that his government had retreated from pledges to crack down on Islamic terrorists nurtured by Pakistan's intelligence services, including those who had for years been crossing LoC.
"We will ensure that terrorism does not go from Pakistan anywhere outside into the world," the newspaper quoted Musharraf as saying.
"That is our stand, and we adhere to it. ... Let me assure you, there is no backtracking."
The Post said the Pakistani leader made clear in the interview that he was offering a fresh pledge to end the border crossings.
"There is nothing happening on the Line of Control," he said. "That is what I would like to repeat. And I would like to repeat again: Reciprocation is important."
The newspaper said Musharraf accused India of sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan and of using war threats "to destabilize me, my government and Pakistan".
"As a first step, the (Indian) military should leave the towns and cities of Kashmir and be in the outskirts," Musharraf said.
Asked to describe the circumstances in which he would consider using nuclear weapons, the Post quoted Musharraf as saying this was a scenario "I wouldn't even like to imagine."
"As a first step, the (Indian) military should leave the towns and cities of Kashmir and be in the outskirts," Musharraf said.
Maybe I'm reading more into this than is actually there, but...
He's saying nothing's happening on the Line of Control, and that reciprocation is important... This sounds to me like an implied admission that he has something to do with the (claimed) cessation of infiltration across the LoC.. which would, in turn, imply that he had something to do with the fact that infiltration existed in the first place.
And another important point - in return for pulling back his jehadi dogs, he wants India to pull out of the cities of Indian-Kashmir. If this doesn't prove what India has been claiming all along, that is, that Pakistan uses jehad as an instrument of state policy, I don't know what does!
India would be foolish to trust this man.
The Washington Post also quoted General Musharraf as saying in an interview on Saturday that if deterrence failed, "We are very capable of an offensive defence. ... These words are very important. We'll take the offensive into Indian territory."
It means that Pakis pumped enough terrorists into India to start the offensive, does not it?
India doesn't trust him. We've been here before. He made a similar statement and pledge in January to avert war after the terror attack on the Indian Parliment. But the terror camps stayed open, the ISI still helped the terrorists and 75% of the 2000 militants Musharraf arrested were released.
India won't be fooled by these words, they'll want to see serious action being taken on the ground. So far, that hasn't happened. This is all hot air.
They have to get through Indian Army lines, too, and India outnumbers the Paks.
So, which army would it be easier for an infiltrator to avoid?
What's lost in this discussion is that al-Qaida would love to start a war here in order to provoke an attack against Musharraf. Musharraf has sided with the Great Satan, after all.
If they can get the Pakistani army destroyed and Musharraf out of power, they will have accomplised a huge strategic goal.
I still don't think this will eliminate terrorism in Kashmir. Some infiltrators will probably get through anyway, and there is an indigenous separatist movement within that state, too.
The temptation to strike during these weeks of tension is probably overwhelming. With any luck, India will shoot first and ask questions later. I really do not want to see a war break out between these two countries.
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