Military

DATE=11/10/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-N-Musharraf News Conference (L Only)

NUMBER=2-282975

BYLINE=Breck Ardery

DATELINE=United Nations

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says the current military action in Afghanistan should not be characterized as a "war." V-O-A Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: Mr. Musharraf told reporters he is against using the word "war" to describe what is now occurring in Afghanistan.

///MUSHARRAF ACT///

There is no war going on in Afghanistan. It is an operation against terrorists, their abettors and their supporters. Unfortunately, it has been projected as if there is a war against the people of Afghanistan. That is not the case.

///END ACT///

Mr. Musharraf said he hopes the U-S - led military action will be short and targeted, although he did not specifically say that he would like to see the military activity suspended during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Asked about the possibility that Osama bin Laden's terrorist network has nuclear and chemical weapons, the Pakistani president said he doubts it.

///MUSHARRAF ACT///

I have no such information but purely on my own judgment, I can not even imagine that he has nuclear weapons. It is not such a thing that you can possess safely. It involves the nuclear material, its trigger mechanism, its delivery system and I can not imagine him possessing all of that. Chemical weapons are a possibility but I have no such information.

///END ACT///

Regarding Kashmir, Mr. Musarraf said he hopes to resume talks with India to achieve a peaceful resolution of the dispute "according to the wishes of the people of Kashmir."(Signed)

NEB/UN/BA/PT