Rashid drags Advani into terror list row

In his first press conference in New Delhi today, Sheikh said it was important for a superpower to mediate between India and Pakistan on all outstanding issues, including Kashmir. President Pervez Musharraf had spoken to President George Bush on this during his recent visit to Washington, Rashid said.

Asked why Pakistan was insistent on US help, Sheikh said the role of a superpower in settling disputes could not be underestimated — ‘‘things start moving as it (the superpower) ensures that rivals don’t go to war’’. He remained ambivalent on whether the US tilted towards one side or the other at times. ‘‘It is an open secret. You too are a blued-eyed boy.’’

Describing Vajpayee as a man of vision, he said Islamabad was looking forward to his visit at the 12th SAARC summit next year. While parrying questions on whether Kashmir would dominate the summit, he said: ‘‘Let us muster the political will to address this issue once and for all.’’

‘‘Pakistan stands for tension-free, cooperative and friendly relations with India. It is our mutual interest … we have such a leadership that if you take one step we’ll take two steps forward.’’

On the charge that Pakistan was aiding terrorism in J-K, Sheikh said with an army of eight lakh on hand and Israeli radars for surveillance, ‘‘ek chidiya bhi par nahin maar sakti’’. He charged the security forces with committing ‘atrocities’’ on the people of the state.