BBC: The process of dialogue between India and Pakistan seems to be moving forward once again. But can you say that Agra would not be repeated this time? Pervez Musharraf: I hope so and everyone should hope in the same direction. But there should be no room for complacency. Some people are thinking everything has been achieved, there is peace all around, but it is not so. Remember it is the beginning. BBC listener from Canada : Today both India and Pakistan are facing numerous problems. Why don’t both countries sit down and sort out the problems, instead of making themselves a laughing stock before the western world. Till when would they continue fighting over Kargil and Kashmir? Musharraf: Absolutely, you are talking about Kargil and Kashmir, but you have forgotten about Siachen. We will have to put all this, including Siachen, behind now. It has been said widely from the Indian side that, I say something else and do something else. This is wrong, I do not believe in double standards. This is a misunderstanding. I am a soldier and I do what I say. I believe in straight talk. Please remember, when I make a verbal commitment, it is final. BBC listener from Islamabad: Who has the final authority on Kashmir, the president or the National Assembly? Musharraf: This would definitely be the decision of the National Assembly, because it represents the aspirations of the public. But the president can contribute, there should be no doubt about it. I am surprised why such questions come, since the president is also a part of Pakistan. The president can also have an opinion, he cannot sit with his mouth stitched. BBC: India says Pakistan promotes cross border terrorism in Kashmir. Some of the ministers of the present government in Pakistan have said their country provides moral support to the struggle of Kashmiris. You are saying it is an indigenous struggle. How would the process of dialogue move forward in such a scenario? Musharraf: See the point of view has to be futuristic. India is still talking about the past and the present. I am saying let us move forward. This is a four step process. First of all let us talk, then let us accept that Kashmir is a problem which has to be solved. And then have a composite dialogue which includes Kashmir. The third step is that the solutions which are unacceptable to India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris could be left apart. Finally, from the solutions which are acceptable — in fact 10 to 12 people have already given some solutions — all of us can select a mutually acceptable one. This would be a win-win situation for India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris. BBC: The prime minister of Pakistan recently announced a unilateral ceasefire, which as been accepted by India. I would draw your attention to what the Indian deputy prime minister, L.K. Advani has said: ‘Cross-border terrorism has not stopped. Even though the cease-fire is not meant to end cross-border terrorism, we have accepted it . A lot of infiltration has already taken place.’ What do you have to say on this? Musharraf: Well, they start saying anything and keep on changing their statements frequently. The armed forces fire on the LoC. Since there is a ceasefire now, therefore no firing is taking place . Let me tell you another thing, they used to say earlier that infiltration takes place under the cover of firing by Pakistani forces. Now when there is no firing on the LoC, how is infiltration taking place? Even if two birds fly, they would say infiltration is taking place. They should accept whatever is happening there is an internal creation. Take the peace process forward, only then can things be rectified. BBC listener from Germany: There is a list of 20 terrorists wanted by India, who are also on the most wanted list of Interpol. India say they are in Pakistan, a list has also been given. What do you say? Musharraf: India has given a list of 20, I can send a list of 50. See there is no shortage of lists. I was given a list, which includes the name of Advani sahib. I can send that list to India. But till where would we keep on fighting on such lists? Let me tell you that militant acts are not taking place there only. The bomb explosions which are taking place in Pakistan, in many cases we are certain that the Indian intelligence agencies are behind these blasts! The list given by them has no evidence behind it. We would take action only on the basis of evidence. BBC: You have said Indian leaders have been changing their statements frequently, but the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, said Taliban leader Mullah Omar is in Pakistan. So are all your neighbours lying? Musharraf: Karzai sahib gave this statement sitting comfortably in Kabul. If he knew where Mullah Omar is, why did he not pass the information to us, so that we could have nabbed him. He (Karzai) should know that we are against terrorism, and we have achieved maximum success against terrorism. No country can claim to have done more against terrorism than Pakistan. As president it is extremely annoying for me — let him tell us what has his government done against the terrorists? On our part we have nabbed and killed 600 terrorists. No one should talk in this way, let us all worry about our countries. BBC listener from Belgaum (Karnataka): Many years back, the Pakistan government had conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan on former Indian prime minister Morarji Desai. Do you think Pakistan would like to give it to someone in India today? Is anyone worthy of it in your view? Musharraf: I would like to nominate Vajpayee sahib for it if we move forward towards solving the Kashmir issue. If there is an achievement which is significant from Pakistan’s point of view, we would like to honour anyone. BBC: Some time back, you had said any leader of Pakistan who tries to give up Kashmir, cannot remain the leader of the country. India is not ready to give up Kashmir, and Pakistan is not ready to accept anything less than Kashmir. Why are politicians on both sides using this as a political issue to save their chairs? Musharraf: This is a wrong perception, please look at the reality. Kashmiris are a part of the society of Pakistan. That is there in Azad Kashmir, and in our entire country. My joint chief of staff is a Kashmiri. The information minister is a Kashmiri. The Kashmir issue has been going on since 50 years. How can we all of a sudden say we can forget about it? This is totally unrealistic . A militant action could take place against any government in Pakistan. There are some principles of a government, there are national interests of Pakistan. BBC: What are your expectations from the SAARC summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad early next year? Musharraf: We have high expectations from the summit. First of all I am very hopeful of the summit taking place as scheduled . Next we hope Prime Minister Vajpayee sahib will participate. I also hope that Vajpayee sahib will meet with all the leaders here. I am also hopeful that maybe talks take place. BBC: Are you meeting Prime Minister Vajpayee? Musharraf: Yes, if he wants to meet me, I will meet him. See he should not get an impression that since I have been saying this time and again, I am desperate to meet him. Let me tell you, I am living here and sitting comfortably, there is no problem. I would meet him only if he wants.
