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| Sunday, 20 January 2002 |
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Pakistan's Musharraf condemns terrorism, bans five militant Muslim groups LONDON, Saturday (Reuters) Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Friday it was for India to make the next move to resolve the crisis between the two nuclear-armed rivals. In an interview with CNN television, Musharraf said Pakistan did not want war and wanted to step back from its military standoff with its neighbour. "I think I've been taking a lot of initiatives. It's high time that he (Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee) takes some initiatives himself as well," Musharraf told CNN. Musharraf made a speech on Saturday in which he condemned all forms of terrorism and banned five militant Muslim groups, including two that India blamed for an attack on its parliament last month. Musharraf said he objected to Indian comments that Pakistan had to do still more. "(Regarding) comments from their side that they are judging what we are doing and I have to show more action after the speech - I don't have to show anything. I take strong objection to their comments. "On our side we don't want war. We want to reduce tension and want to de-escalate." Pakistan and India have been massing troops on either side of the border since a bloody December 13 attack on the Indian parliament, blamed by India on Pakistan-based militant groups fighting its rule in part of disputed Kashmir. Asked about 20 most wanted suspects whom India wants Pakistan to deliver - including Kashmiri and Sikh rebels and people suspected of links to Bombay's crime underworld - Musharraf said Pakistan would not hand over any Pakistanis. "As far as Pakistanis are concerned, we are not handing over any Pakistanis, and if we get any evidence we will try them here," he said. However, he said he was optimistic about the possibility of resolving the crisis with the help of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who visited Pakistan and India this week to help defuse tensions. "I can't say for sure...but I think there is a desire in Vajpayee to have a dialogue with Pakistan on all issues including Kashmir," he said, indicating that the environment had changed slightly for the better. The two countries have fought three wars since independence in 1947, two over Kashmir. |
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