RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, 30 October 2005 — Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf wants Syria and Iran to adopt a reconciliatory approach rather than a confrontational one in dealing with the United States. The Pakistani leader made this suggestion in an exclusive interview with Arab News yesterday.
Musharraf was responding to a question whether reconciliatory approaches were made more difficult by the Iranian statement a few days ago that Israel should be wiped off the world map.
“I would not make that kind of statement,” said Musharraf. “Anything that serves to increase confrontation should be avoided. We must concentrate on things which assist reconciliation instead of things which lead to confrontation.”
Musharraf was asked whether Pakistan, as a close ally of the United States, would play a role in defusing the situation arising out of the remarks made by US President George W. Bush against Syria and Iran.
Bush’s specific reference to Iran and Syria came in the wake of the latest UN report critical of Damascus’ role in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and the continuing war of words with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Asked what Pakistan’s role would be if the US opened a new front against Syria and Iran, Musharraf said there were already too many fronts and they all needed to be closed.
Musharraf expressed his gratitude for the Kingdom’s generous aid to the quake-affected people in Pakistan. “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the royal family have shown great generosity and set an example for others to follow,” Musharraf said. He also lauded the Saudi people for donating financial and material aid in support of the victims.
About the prospects of talks with India and Pakistan’s offer to open the Line of Control (LOC) which divides Kashmir, Musharraf said the idea was aimed at enabling Kashmiris to take advantage of the relief activities in progress.
“It is unfortunate that anybody has said that Pakistan has haggled on this issue. Pakistan has been haggling on only one issue: Indian military personnel coming across the LOC. On no other issue has Pakistan haggled. As for relief operations, let me repeat that if India wants to send anything, please send it. In any amount, in any quantity and in any form. We want relief supplies. Open the LOC. We have opened relief centers at five points on the LOC. We have suggested five crossing points and the Indians are talking of three.”
Musharraf said he was all for opening the LOC and making it irrelevant. In fact, he said, he was for demilitarization.
The president said it was unfortunate that in some quarters, especially in the Arab world, there was a misunderstanding about the recent contacts between Pakistan and Israel.
“Pakistan’s stance concerning the Palestinian cause remains unchanged; there has been no change whatsoever,” the president said.
