Gen only buffer against extremism: PoK leader

be used to serve what he said was India’s policy to ‘‘destabilise’’ Pakistan.

The recent assassination of Hurriyat Conference leader Abdul Gani Lone could be a result of the withdrawal of his bodyguards, or the act of ‘‘some extremist elements also, on our side.’’

This was because he was perceived as getting too close to the Indian government, the former PoK president and prime minister admitted.

‘‘Gani Lone was the only person capable of setting up a peace process.’’

‘‘I myself am under threat,’’ added Qayyum, who met with Washington Post editors and reporters on Monday.

Saying all confidence building measures had failed, he accused Indian leaders of seeking to defuse tension on their own terms ‘‘without addressing the core issue’’ of self-determination

for Kashmiris, ‘‘the only people in the subcontinent to be denied that right.’’

Qayyum said he could not confirm rumours that Osama bin Laden or members of his al Qaeda terrorist network had moved into Kashmir.

There was no organised mobilisation effort or activity, he maintained, but a ‘‘kind of cult of villain worship.’’

Former Pakistani information minister and columnist Mushahid Hussain, who accompanied Qayyum, said the stakes in South Asia were

‘‘infinitely much higher than in the Middle East’’ because of the nuclear potential.

‘‘If war takes place, it will even destabilise the United States. In the Middle East at least there is a road map,’’ Hussain said.