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No time-limit to stop infiltration: Pervez

Islamabad, August 29
Making it clear that he had not given any timeframe to the international community to stop infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said he expected “some progress and reciprocation” from the Indian side to resolve the Kashmir issue.

On whether his assurance to stop the infiltration across the LoC would last or whether he has put any time limit on it, General Musharraf said in an interview to the BBC today that there was no time limit on his assurances but expected some reciprocation from Indian side.

General Musharraf also ruled out any threat posed by extremists” in Pakistan to his government and said involvement of Al-Qaida and Indian intelligence agency RAW was not ruled out in the recent attacks on Christians in Pakistan.

“They do not pose any threat to the government. They are just extremists. They can undertake extremist acts. But you will see in these elections that they have no place in politics. They are not supported by the public at large”, he said. However, General Musharraf admitted that the entry of Al-Qaida into Pakistan had caused “anxiety”.

“This is bad. Because they carry out destabilisation within cities. That is a worrisome act. But I do not think that is widespread. I think they are more on the borders, if at all they are there, he said.

General Musharraf also denied that recent constitutional change were made to strengthen his position ahead of the October general elections.

He also defended the National Security Council and denied that he was trying to grab more power, saying “If I was to take power for myself, as a person, I would not make the National Security Council.” He said no “sane” person would want either of the former premiers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto back in power.

Ms Rao said: “We do not wish to get into the game of reacting each time General Musharraf makes his habitual pronouncements on the issue of his country’s involvement in terrorism directed against India’’.

“But we cannot fail to note that his declaration to the BBC that he has not given any timeframe to the international community with regard to stopping infiltration across the Line of Control is coming in the wake of the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to Islamabad last week,” she observed. PTI

India lashes out at Pak
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 29
India today lashed out at Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for his assertion that he had not given any timeframe to the international community on stopping infiltration across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that this meant that Islamabad would continue to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Coming out strongly against General Musharraf’s remarks in an interview to BBC, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Nirupama Rao said “His latest statement suggests that he will end infiltration only when he finds it opportune; in other words, Pakistan will continue to use terrorism as an instrument of state policy.”

She said “If there was room in further lowering the sincerity and credibility of Pakistan’s statements, then that space has been found”.