M A I N   N E W S

Forget force, let’s talk: Musharraf
Refuses to hand over ultras sans proof

Islamabad, March 23
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today again offered to hold talks with India to resolve Kashmir and other outstanding bilateral issues while warning New Delhi not to entertain hopes of settling them through force.

“We believe that all issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, can be resolved through dialogue. But if India wants to settle them through force then it should not be under any misconception,” he said in a television address to the nation on the occasion of Pakistan Day.

“If anyone tries to challenge us by force, we will give a fitting reply,” General Musharraf said.

The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of a resolution by the Muslim League in Lahore in 1940 calling for carving a separate state of Pakistan out of the then undivided India.

India had rejected earlier offers of talks by Pakistan saying that Islamabad should first create conditions conducive for a dialogue by stopping, what it calls, cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and by handing over 20 fugitives from law, who it says, were wanted for acts of terrorism and other heinous crimes.

This year the Pakistan Day celebrations were without the traditional military parade that marks the day.

“We have not held the military parade this time because, as you are aware, our forces are deployed along our eastern border and along the Line of Control (in Jammu and Kashmir) because of the policy of our neighbouring country,” General Musharraf said.

“India has stationed its entire military force along the border. As a result, we have had to do the same so that we can look the enemy in the eye and talk to it,” he added.

General Musharraf emphasised the need for eradicating terrorism and said for this it was necessary to revamp the intelligence agencies. Meanwhile, Pakistan has reiterated that it will not hand over the 20 militants wanted by India unless concrete evidence is provided against them.

This was stated by foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan last night when asked to comment on the American statement asking Pakistan to hand over the militants.

Mr Khan said his country had informed the USA of its stand.

India had not provided any evidence against the 20, he said. IANS, UNI