WASHINGTON, 27 June 2003 — President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday warned the United States it must attack the root causes of terrorism, not just the actions of extremist groups, a day after his summit with President George W. Bush.
Musharraf was promised a three-billion dollar aid package from Bush - who praised his visitor as a “courageous” ally.
But he warned in a speech yesterday that some of his countrymen were yet to be convinced of the wisdom of siding with Washington.
“I will frankly admit, there are many misgivings in Pakistan about both the justification and the utility of our cooperation with the US,” he said in a speech to the US Institute for Peace.
“This is due to a perception that symptoms rather than the root causes of terror and extremism are being addressed and that unjust situations in which Muslim peoples are victims of state terror are being ignored.”
His remarks squared with those of other leaders of many developing countries, who have complained that the United States has not done enough to alleviate poverty suffered by Muslims throughout the world. Some leaders also argue that the US role in the Middle East and support for Israel have turned many Arab and Muslim supporters of the Palestinians against Washington.
Bush said on Tuesday that Pakistan was an “essential” ally in the US anti-terror campaign, approving its record of seizing Al-Qaeda kingpins on its territory and its aid in tracking down Al-Qaeda and Taleban remnants in Afghan border areas.
Musharraf earlier injected a rare note of discord into his carefully stage-managed visit, warning that increasing scrutiny of Pakistani students by US authorities following the Sept. 11 attacks had sowed anti-American feeling in his republic.
“Students and parents of students hesitate to come to the US for fear of harassment,” Musharraf said.
“At the very least they are made to feel unwelcome by immigration officials. Invitees to seminars and business delegations are denied visas or made to wait interminably,” Musharraf said, a day after his friendly summit with President George W. Bush. “Travel advisories against Pakistan similarly disrupt business exchanges,” he said, referring to regular State Department bulletins warning Americans of the dangers of terror attacks against them in Pakistan.
Musharraf said the US treatment of Pakistanis was “self-defeating,” but added that he believed that Bush was “a candid man” and a “sincere friend of Pakistan” and saw the situation in a similar light. “This situation must improve as it has very negative resonance in Pakistan. I speak with the candor of a sincere friend of the US. I do not need to mince my words,” said Musharraf who has defied some domestic opposition and backed the US anti-terror campaign. He argued that no Pakistani students had been implicated in any terrorist activity, and therefore any US prejudice against them was unfair. “Our students must have access into the United States.”
Certain categories of Pakistanis and members of a number of other Muslim nations living in this country are now required to register with US authorities.
Thousands of Pakistanis found to be in the country illegally have been deported - a situation with which Musharraf said he had no problem. “There have not been any incidents of legal Pakistanis who have been deported,” Musharraf said.
On India-Pakistan relations, Musharraf offered to embrace Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as a “partner in a historic peace process” calling for dialogue to end seething tensions in South Asia. Musharraf said he was encouraged by moves by Vajpayee to defuse the most recent drama between the two rivals, but warned that Pakistan would not be intimidated or bow to Indian pressure.
“India-Pakistan relations are at last showing some prospect of movement,” Musharraf said.
“But whether we shall be able to avail of this prospect is as yet a matter of cautious hope,” he said, arguing the dispute over the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir was the core issue that needed to be tackled.
In a separate meeting with journalists, academics and business executives here Musharraf said Pakistan would not proliferate its nuclear technology. He said he had “no proof whatsoever,” that Pakistan had ever proliferated unconventional weapons technology.
“In the conventional or the unconventional side we have no linkages whatsoever between Pakistan and North Korea. It’s a story of the past, we have closed this chapter.”
US news reports last year quoted unidentified US intelligence officials as saying that Pakistan swapped nuclear know-how for missile technology from the Stalinist state, a fierce US foe.
But US officials have said they are satisfied that no such transfers are currently taking place, with the United States locked in a nuclear showdown with Pyongyang.
“I would like to guarantee, as far as I am concerned that in future, Pakistan will never proliferate its nuclear technology,” Musharraf said during a question and answer session following a speech to the US Institute for Peace.
Musharraf said Pakistan would not offer diplomatic recognition to Israel any time soon, but would be forced to look at the issue if the drive for Middle East peace approaches resolution.
“It cannot happen soon,” said Musharraf, at the question and answer session.
Musharraf said Pakistan would not offer diplomatic recognition to Israel any time soon, but would be forced to look at the issue if the drive for Middle East peace approaches resolution.
“It cannot happen soon,” said Musharraf, at the question and answer session.
“A lot is happening in the Middle East, the peace process facilitated now between the Palestinians and the Israelis is very welcome. The direct involvement of President Bush is most welcome. If this peace process makes progress and moves forward toward resolution, then Pakistan certainly needs to reconsider its policy toward Israel. “I can’t say when we reach the ultimate goal of maybe recognizing Israel. We need to develop a national consensus on the issue. The people of Pakistan need to be taken along.”
