The Hindustan Times
Vijay Dutt
December 6

London: British Prime Minister Tony Blair firmly said that Britain would do everything to support the dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue but will not interfere in the process.

This statement, made at a joint press conference with Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf at 10, Downing Street after their luncheon meeting, in fact refuted the earlier statement made by the General during his interview with the Times on Sunday. He had then said that he would ask Mr Blair during their meeting (on Monday) to involve Britain in resolving the Kashmir issue.

President Musharraf also retracted from his earlier stand that war on terror was creating more terrorism. On being asked about it, he said there should be two dimensional approach to tackling global terrorism. After 9/11, the immediate approach should be military that is terrorism will have to be met by military force. In the second dimension, a long term political strategy is needed to resolve political disputes and issues which are the core of extremism and breeding grounds for terrorism.

General Musharraf emphasised that the world was passing through critical times. He said the international and regional issues have to be resolved together and one should not be anchored to the past but look to the future. He supported Prime Minister Blair, albeit indirectly, when he said that the policy and strategy in Iraq today is the right one - tackling terrorism at one stage, preferably by the Iraqi forces and at the other, holding elections for a democratic Iraq.

On being asked about Al-Qaeda being active in Pakistan, General Musharraf said that Pakistan had to bear the extremists who escaped from Afghanistan following the war against the Taliban. But Pakistan had succeeded in smashing their structure and breaking the back of the Al-Qaeda. He said most have been flushed out and they have run away to the mountains. The cities are now clean and only third level stringers are being mopped up so the previous accusation against Pakistan cannot be made any more. "There is no reason to doubt that we are winning the battle against extremism and terrorism."

The President's delegation which included foreign minister Khursheed M. Kasuri and commerce minister of Pakistan have, according to sources, pressed upon the British government to help them enter the European market in a bigger way.

The General will address the House of Commons on Tuesday and after dinner with the community leaders in Manchester, fly to Paris for scheduled meetings with French President Jacques Chirac and others.

Tony Blair while warmly welcoming General Musharraf said that he had congratulated him for bringing together moderate forces in his country to show the true face of Islam.