09 January 2004
Armitage Praises Indian-Pakistani Peace Initiative
Says conditions for improved ties the best in years
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said the political courage and statesmanship of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf have brought about the peace initiative between India and Pakistan.
"[I]t is the political courage and statesmanship of Prime Minister Vajpayee as well as the courage and statesmanship of President Musharraf which brought this remarkable development into being," Armitage said in an interview with NDTV New Delhi January 9.
The United States and the other friends of India and Pakistan have a role to play in supporting the peace initiative, Armitage said.
The deputy secretary said the conditions for a breakthrough in improved relations are the best they have been in years.
"The economic links are improving. The global environment, I think, is more conducive. There is less of the international competition, the old hangover of the Cold War and all of those things which put one side or another into one camp or another. So I think the conditions are as ripe as they'll be, and we have two valiant leaders who seem to me intent on leading their nations on a path of peace. So that's about the best conditions that I've seen in years," Armitage said.
He said Musharraf's steadfastness following two assassination attempts underscores his commitment to peace.
Following is the transcript of Armitage's interview with NDTV:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
January 9, 2004
2004/18
INTERVIEW
Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage
On NDTV New Delhi with Barkha Dutt
January 9, 2004
Washington, D.C.
(9:37 a.m. EST)
MS. DUTT: The statesmanship of Prime Minister Vajpayee, the political courage of General Musharraf -- these were the two key ingredients that went into the making of the India-Pakistan peace draft. But many here believe that the meal would just not have been ready to cook had it not been for Washington.
Well, is America the third unseen party at the dialogue table? Joining us on the show today live from Washington, one of America's topmost policy makers, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
Mr. Armitage, welcome to the program, sir.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you, and how do you do?
MS. DUTT: We are doing well and we have a lot of questions for you. The first one, of course, being that many people in India and Pakistan believe that we have you, that is, Washington, to thank for this recent peace accord, that Washington has been exerting pressure behind the scenes.
What can you tell us about that?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I would first of all note that success seems to have a thousand fathers. But the fact of the matter is, as you started or you mentioned at the beginning of the broadcast, it is the political courage and statesmanship of Prime Minister Vajpayee as well as the courage and statesmanship of President Musharraf which brought this remarkable development into being.
MS. DUTT: Mr. Armitage, many believe that there is a third party, an unseen party, at the dialogue table, and that is the United States of America. Is there any role for America at all, according to you, in this entire peace process?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I wouldn't say that the role is in the peace process itself, but certainly there is a role for the United States and for friends of both India and Pakistan alike to be supportive of the process, and bilaterally with each of the countries to be as supportive as possible in the continued development of our relationships with, on the one hand, India and, on the other, with Islamabad.
It seems to me that to the extent both countries are very confident of their relationships with the rest of the world, then they'll have the necessary confidence to be able to deal with very knotty and longstanding problems.
MS. DUTT: Would you describe the role of the United States as that of a facilitator?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, I think that gives us too much credit. I think any normal diplomat would want to rush up and say that we did it, we did it. We didn't do it. If we were helpful, it was because at key moments we were able to talk to both sides when tensions were high. But the fact of the matter is that this was brought about because of courage of Indians and Pakistanis alike.
MS. DUTT: Let me ask you, though, the cynics would say that there have been many false starts between India and Pakistan. Lahore failed, Agra failed.
Do you have any reason to believe that this time the two leaders, the two governments, the two countries, are better prepared, that they've done their homework?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think they can better answer about having done their homework. But it seems to me that conditions are better than they have been. I noted today that an Indian airliner landed at Lahore for the first time in several years. The economic links are improving.
The global environment, I think, is more conducive. There is less of the international competition, the old hangover of the Cold War and all of those things which put one side or another into one camp or another. So I think the conditions are as ripe as they'll be, and we have two valiant leaders who seem to me intent on leading their nations on a path of peace. So that's about the best conditions that I've seen in years.
MS. DUTT: Well, as you are aware, Mr. Armitage, one of India's primary concerns has been what the Indian Government calls cross-border terrorism, what Washington has sometimes described as activity across the line of control.
Do you have reason to believe, does Washington have reason to believe, that Pakistan is genuine in its efforts this time to hold back, to rein in, that violence?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First of all, I think it's quite clear that the violence is down, and it's down beyond the normal seasonal downswing that one sees because of the snows.
Second of all, I don't ascribe all of the cross-border violence to -- and the cross-line of control violence to the Government of Pakistan. It's clear to me, however, that the Government of Pakistan is exerting efforts. They want to give this peace initiative a chance, and in that regard they should be saluted and encouraged.
MS. DUTT: Mr. Armitage, Indians want to know whether we will see the dismantling of terrorist camps that operate from Pakistani soil. What assurances does Washington have from the Government of Pakistan on that?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, we have had very good discussions with President Musharraf and his colleagues about these matters. We believe President Musharraf when he says he does not want these type activities on Pakistan soil. Obviously, time will tell. I can't make a prediction, but I will say that we in the United States do put a great deal of faith in the word of Pervez Musharraf.
MS. DUTT: Mr. Armitage, Pervez Musharraf narrowly escaped two assassination attempts. The question being asked is whether the general is, in fact, in control of all of these militant and terrorist groups. Do you believe the general is fully in command?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I don't think that President Musharraf is in command of terrorist groups at all. I think he is -- he has come to the tiller of his state at a very troubled time for Pakistan. He has participated fully in the global war on terrorism. And it's not a secret in the United States, in Islamabad or in Delhi, that there are many in Pakistan who wish President Musharraf ill.
I think the lesson under these two assassination attempts is that President Musharraf is a man of courage; he will not be swayed, he will not be terrorized into going along another path other than the search for peace which he is engaged with with Prime Minister Vajpayee. And our think our Indian friends should take some sense of confidence from that.
MS. DUTT: Those are reassuring words, I am sure, sir, for all Indians listening to this program, and indeed all Pakistanis listening to this program. But, of course, New Delhi is taking several initiatives of its own to begin a kick-started dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir here in India.
Is Washington keeping a key eye on those developments as well, sir?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We are very proud of our last three years in the development of the relationship bilaterally with India and bilaterally with Pakistan. And you can rest assured that Secretary Powell, myself, the Assistant Secretary for South Asia Christina Rocca, are keenly interested, as is President Bush.
MS. DUTT: All right, sir. Time just for one final question. General Pervez Musharraf called the developments historic. Would you share his optimism or would you use a more cautious word? How would you describe these developments?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I think they are historic, for reasons that I've mentioned before. There's a confluence of events internationally that are going on which I think lead to a real possibility of lasting peace. And this is good for India, good for Pakistan, and God knows it's good for the people of Kashmir.
MS. DUTT: All right, Mr. Armitage. We know that whether Washington goes official with it or not, the United States will play a key role in whatever happens in this part of our world. Thank you very much. It's been a pleasure to have you on the program.
Thank you, Mr. Armitage.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you for your invitation and your kindness.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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