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Musharraf takes a U-turn, says killing civilians in Kashmir is terrorism
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Monday described as terrorist act the killing of civilians in bomb blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and asked Pakistani extremists not to get involved in foreign countries.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Monday described as terrorist act the killing of civilians in bomb blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and asked Pakistani extremists not to get involved in foreign countries.
A bomb blast in which 25 to 30 people including 15 to 20 civilians get killed is a terrorist act whether it is in Kashmir or anywhere else, Musharraf said in an interview to Pakistan’s official television channel.
Musharraf had earlier described the October one attack on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as a terrorist act.
He, however, said the ban on terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed by the US did not indicate that Washington disagreed with Pakistan's description of militancy in Kashmir as freedom struggle. “It is a misperception. Even my joint statement with President George Bush in Washington had called for a solution to the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of people of J and K. They very much understand that there is a freedom struggle there,” Musharraf said.
The problem with outfits like LeT and JeM was that they got involved in Afghanistan and got identified with that brand of terrorism, he said.
“The Pakistani extremists should learn a lesson from the Afghan experience. Pakistan is as much concerned about Islam as they are. They should stay here and strengthen Pakistan.” There is no need for them to go out and fight, he said. Musharraf said his govt wanted to take action against minority extremists in Pakistan.
Bureau Report
Musharraf had earlier described the October one attack on Jammu and Kashmir Assembly as a terrorist act.
He, however, said the ban on terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed by the US did not indicate that Washington disagreed with Pakistan's description of militancy in Kashmir as freedom struggle. “It is a misperception. Even my joint statement with President George Bush in Washington had called for a solution to the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of people of J and K. They very much understand that there is a freedom struggle there,” Musharraf said.
The problem with outfits like LeT and JeM was that they got involved in Afghanistan and got identified with that brand of terrorism, he said.
“The Pakistani extremists should learn a lesson from the Afghan experience. Pakistan is as much concerned about Islam as they are. They should stay here and strengthen Pakistan.” There is no need for them to go out and fight, he said. Musharraf said his govt wanted to take action against minority extremists in Pakistan.
Bureau Report