ISLAMABAD, 21 July 2006 — Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yesterday called for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East and demanded peaceful solution of the issues between Israel and Lebanon.
In a rare address to the nation broadcast on state television and radio, Musharraf urged India to avoid a “blame game” after the Bombay bombings, saying it would hand victory to terrorists who oppose peace moves by the two countries.
Musharraf also called on New Delhi not to stall a two-year-old dialogue process because of last week’s blasts which killed around 180 people.
“We are all against terrorism, Pakistan is part of the international coalition in the fight against terrorism. But to involve each other or indulge in a blame game, in my view, is a first sign of defeat,” Musharraf said.
“Terrorists want to stop the peace process and the normalization process and I am sure the Indian government would not like them to win,” he added.
Musharraf described the growing Israeli military campaigns against Arab states as alarming and called on the world community to prevail over Israel to halt its aggression against Lebanon.
“Many innocent people in Lebanon are killed by Israeli aggression,” he said.
Musharraf expressed the apprehensions that if at present stage Israel is not checked the scope of conflict will be widened endangering Lebanon, Syria and Iran with its fallout to Pakistan as well.
He said it is the duty of the UN Security Council and other international organizations to exert pressure on Israel to halt its adventurism against innocent people of Lebanon and Palestine.
“If Israel at this juncture is not checked a threat is looming to the peace and stability of not only the Middle East but the entire region,” he said. “Israel has in a brazen manner launched its aggression against Lebanon. It is killing Palestinian people. Its greater designs have engulfed peace and security not only of the Middle East but if the conflict continues Iran, Syria and other regions will be sucked into this war”.
The Foreign Relations Committee of Pakistan’s Senate met in Islamabad yesterday and condemned the Israeli assault in Lebanon and urged Muslim countries to play a proactive role in a cease-fire.
The official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported that the committee also suggested that Islamic world leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Turkey should visit UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss an immediate cease-fire.
As the Israel-Lebanon crisis entered its second week with the worst fighting yet between Hezbollah and Israel, the international community expressed growing concern about human rights violations and the rising death toll.
It’s State Terrorism, Says Dhaka
Bangladesh yesterday accused Israel of “state terrorism” in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, describing the Jewish state’s bombardment of Lebanon as a “heinous” act.
“We are deeply concerned over the current situation in the Middle East,” Bangladesh Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan told journalists in the capital Dhaka.
“We feel the world community should come forward to restrain the state terrorism of Israeli aggression on Lebanon and the people of Palestine,” Khan said. “Attacking Lebanon and killing innocent civilians, I think, ... is a heinous act,” he said.
Anti-Israel Demo in Kashmir
A Muslim leader in revolt-hit Indian Kashmir yesterday called for demonstrations and a one-day strike to protest Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
“I call upon people of Kashmir to observe a one-day strike on Saturday to protest Israel’s naked aggression on Lebanon,” Syed Ali Geelani told a news conference in the summer capital Srinagar.
Geelani heads a faction of the region’s main pro-independence alliance the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. “I also urge people to hold demonstrations against Israel after congregational prayers Friday,” he said.
The Kashmiri leader castigated the world community for “remaining silent spectators to Israel’s aggression on innocent people in Lebanon.”
