RIYADH, 13 January — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, yesterday called for dialogue between India and Pakistan to defuse rising tensions.
Prince Abdullah was delivered a message from President Pervez Musharraf by Pakistani Minister of Communications and Railways Javaid Ashraf, who arrived in Riyadh Friday for talks with Saudi leaders on tensions with neighboring India.
Pakistani diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the message was in line with Islamabad’s consultation and coordination with Riyadh on the Indo-Pak situation. They said the message also dealt with Pakistan’s position on Kashmir.
Prince Abdullah voiced the Kingdom’s backing for Pakistan, but stressed that dialogue is necessary to defuse tensions between the two South Asian neighbors, a Pakistani Embassy spokesman said.
Pakistan yesterday announced a series of measures to avert a conflict with India and vowed a crackdown on militants. In a widely watched televised adress to the nation, President Musharraf vowed to rid Pakistani society of sectarian violence. He said he was banning Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, two of the groups that are at the root of the military standoff between the nuclear neighbors that has brought them to the brink of their fourth war.
Musharraf’s address evoked mixed response from the people of the subcontinent. Pakistani expatriates mostly welcomed the various measures their president announced, while Indians wondered whether the military ruler would translate his powerful rhetoric into action.
"We’ll have to wait and watch how far he will be able to stand by his announcement that Pakistan will not allow its territory to be used for any terrorist activity anywhere in the world," an Indian financial executive in Jeddah remarked.
On the contrary, Hameed Khan, a senior Pakistani accounts executive in the city said: "Musharraf has handed India a peace offer by banning the two Kashmiri groups accused by India of involvement in the attack on its Parliament. This is a generous move and India must respond to this gesture by coming forward for negotiations instead of adopting a warlike posture."
Ishrat Salim, a Karachi businessman based in Jeddah, said: "Musharraf has very shrewdly put the ball in India’s court. His speech was very balanced, very candid and he meant business. He was down-to-earth and his speech will go down very well with Pakistanis."
S.M. Arshad, a Pakistani marketing executive of Jeddah, said: "Despite immense diplomatic pressure, Musharraf came out well in his address. His tone was conciliatory. However, his resolve on Kashmir was firm."
In the Eastern Province, many expatriates expressed their displeasure saying Musharraf did not announce any major policy shift. A large number of Pakistanis welcomed the regulatory measures on madrassas, but criticized Musharraf for diluting the country’s stand on Kashmir.
Banning Lashkar and Jaish was generally welcomed by both Pakistanis and Indians, who believe that such organizations were worsening the already strained relations.
"These organizations were actually hurting the cause of Kashmir. They were also perpetuating terrorism within Pakistan by inciting communal discord," said Iftikhar Ali, a resident of Lahore who is working as an accountant in a business group in Alkhobar.
But Sharafat Husain of Hyderabad, India felt that unless the activities of the extremist groups were curbed, such bans would not have any effect.
Pakistanis welcomed Musharraf’s statement that Pakistan will continue to support Kashmiris. They also lauded his refusal to hand over the alleged terrorists demanded by India.
"The president has made it very clear to Indians that Pakistan will not compromise on its stand on Kashmir, nor will it compromise on its sovereignty," said Mumtaz Ali Khan, general manager of a shipping company in Dammam.
Many Pakistanis agreed that the measures on madrassas will have a very positive effect on Pakistani society. "The revision of the syllabus taught in these madrassas and the introduction of vocational training and the English language will have a far-reaching effect on Pakistani society, as these madrassas will produce more productive graduates," said Riaz Piracha, manager of a housing compound in Dammam.
Indians were skeptical over Musharraf’s speech and many believed that it was essentially a PR effort addressed to the West, particularly the United States. "He said nothing which could defuse tension along the borders," said Shahzad Husain of Patna, Bihar.
Pakistanis, however, wondered about Indian expectations. "What does India expect? To go to them with folded hands and beg for peace," retorted Iftikhar. "We can never compromise on our national dignity and prestige," he said.
Salma Suraiyya of Karachi, now a teacher in an International School in Dhahran, said President Musharraf’s speech was a reflection of his desire to take Pakistan on the path of modernization, peace and prosperity. "Today, he laid the foundation of a peaceful, tolerant and modern Pakistan. He is now translating the dream of Muhammad Ali Jinnah into a reality," she commented.
Many expats also pointed out that the statements of Indian leaders had serious implications.
Mohammad Shafiq Mitla, business development manager of a medical group in Riyadh, said: "The future of over one billion people will be at stake if war erupted in the region. ... War cannot solve the problem."
India’s aggressive stand demonstrated clearly that the Hindu extremist-led coalition has an eye on the Uttar Pradesh provincial elections. Unlike the militant parties BJP, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party were toeing a moderate line, he said, adding, "I hope that the Indian electorate will see through the political game."
Shaukat Naim Ghumman, marketing manager of a leading group of companies in Riyadh, said: "Musharraf’s decision to ban the two extremist organizations is a daring step. His action shows he is ready to scale down tension and avoid war."
K.S. Rajan, marketing manager of a Riyadh-based catering company: "The current tension is not in the interest of both countries, which should strive for a peaceful solution of the dispute."
Musarat Jaffrey, an Indian working in Riyadh for 27 years, said: "The hard-line BJP is under pressure from its mentor, the RSS, for ratcheting up tension to gain political mileage out of the crisis."
