DATE=3/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK-MUSHARRAF-CLINTON (L)
NUMBER=260608
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
Internet=Yes
INTRO: Pakistan's military ruler general Pervez
Musharraf is voicing satisfaction with President
Clinton's short visit to the country. He says
Pakistan's dispute with India over Kashmir was at the
center of his two-hour long discussions the American
leader. As Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad, Mr.
Clinton's visit to Pakistan is the first by a U-S
president in more than three decades.
TEXT: Addressing a news conference after President
Clinton's visit to Pakistan, General Musharraf says
the visit is a good omen for the region's future.
//Musharraf Act #1//
The visit augurs well for a better future of our
region and for strengthening of mutual relations
between Pakistan and the United States. We both
shared the concern that tensions in South Asia
are high and need to be defused. It is widely
recognized that Kashmir is the root cause of
tensions in the region.
//End Act//
General Musharraf says he told Mr. Clinton that any
progress toward a settlement of the Kashmir dispute
has to be the result of action by both India and
Pakistan.
//Musharraf Act 2#//
I told him (Clinton) that Pakistan is ready for
a dialogue anywhere at any time and at any
level. I also impressed upon President Clinton
that U-S engagement is necessary to facilitate a
meaningful dialogue for progress towards
resolution of the Kashmir problem.
//End Act//
The Kashmir dispute has led to two wars between India
and Pakistan. Several rounds of bilateral talks have
failed to settle the issue. Mr. Clinton has ruled out
Pakistani appeals for mediation on Kashmir. India,
which claims the region in its entirety, is opposed to
third party mediation.
India accuses Pakistan of supporting militant Kashmiri
groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. Pakistan says
it only provides moral, political and diplomatic
support to what it calls the Kashmiri freedom
fighters.
//Opt Musharraf Act #3//
On one side I agreed (in talks with Mr. Clinton)
with a necessity of a dialogue between India and
Pakistan and in that dialogue I did say that
there is a requirement of reciprocal action (by
India) to reduce tension and reciprocal actions
means that they (India) need to stop human
rights violations there (in Indian Kashmir).
They need to stop attrocities across the Line of
Control (the ceasefire line in Kashmir). And
then we could also use our influence to moderate
the activities of the freedom fighters.
//End Opt Act//
The Pakistani leader says he declined to give a
timetable for a return of democracy in Pakistan in his
two-hour talks with President Clinton.
On the issue of nuclear non-proliferation, General
Musharraf says he told the U-S president that Pakistan
is against a nuclear arms race with neighboring India
but it will not give up its nuclear deterrence.
//Musharraf Act #4//
I also reaffirmed our policy of restraint and
responsibility on nuclear matters. I stated that
Pakistan's nuclear deterrence is indispensable
for our security.
//End Act//
In his television address to the Pakistani nation, Mr.
Clinton warned against "squandering" the country's
resources on nuclear weapons and heightened tensions
with India. He urged Pakistan to sign the
Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
On terrorism, General Musharraf says he told Mr.
Clinton he was ready to go to neighboring Afghanistan
and discuss the issue of suspected terrorist Osama bin
Laden with the ruling Taleban movement there. The
United States wants Pakistan to use its influence on
the Taleban to hand over bin Laden for trial on
charges of terrorism. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/PT
25-Mar-2000 17:28 PM EDT (25-Mar-2000 2228 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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