Musharraf8217;s complaint

General Pervez Musharraf complains in his first interview to an Indian newspaper that New Delhi's attempts to isolate him internationally ...

General Pervez Musharraf complains in his first interview to an Indian newspaper that New Delhi8217;s attempts to isolate him internationally are not doing bilateral relations any good. He would like India to take him at face value, trust him and conduct a dialogue with him.

Unfortunately for Pakistan it is going to be tough to trust Musharraf because his actions give the lie to his words. He presses all the right buttons on terrorism, for instance, but the facts contradict him and expose the hollowness of his claims. He told The Hindu that his government will bring the hijackers of Flight IC 814 to trial at the first opportunity. He said he 8220;abhors8221; hijacking which is a form of terrorism.

8220;We will proceed against them according to law8221;, he says. All this would be music to Indian ears if there was some sign that Pakistan was actually working towards bringing the hijackers to justice. Have arrest warrants been issued? Has Maulana Azhar Masood been taken in for questioning? Pakistani authorities have noteven tried independently to determine the identities of the criminals, leave alone start a police investigation into their whereabouts.

There is only the flat assertion that the hijackers are not in Pakistan. It8217;s a mockery of words. Like a textbook dictator, Musharraf expects whatever he says to be taken as gospel truth. Others have got away with saying black is white and the sun rises in the west. But it is hard to think anyone can be taken in by Musharraf8217;s high-minded assertions which were also delivered to US Congressmen visiting Islamabad last week. As for Musharraf8217;s expressed willingness to talk to India 8212; 8220;let8217;s adhere to the Simla accord8221;, he says grandly that too rings false. Since the October coup Musharraf has been presenting many faces to the world.

On Kashmir there is covert support for the continuing acts of terrorism in the Valley and assaults on Indian security forces there. At the same time at the international level there is the language of reasonableness. With India there is thepretense of wanting to resolve outstanding issues bilaterally.

In China during his current visit Musharraf came up with two other propositions. One was the usual pledging of 8220;unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support to our Kashmiri brethren8221;. The other, somewhat undiplomatic considering the location, has been a basic Pakistani objective at all times. He would like the US to expedite a just settlement of the Kashmir issue.

Pakistani policy on Kashmir under the military dictator has changed only so far as more emphasis is being given to infiltration into the Valley and action carried out there. Unlike his predecessor, Musharraf shows no appreciation of the need to earn India8217;s trust preparatory to engaging in a serious dialogue. Bilateral relations are at a low point and there is little sign that the Pakistani side knows how to improve things. India can try and prevent the relationship deteriorating further even as it insists on better behaviour and urges the international community to try tobring Pakistan into line with economic and other penalties.