The Tribune
Unrealistic Pak desire
President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan seems desperate for talks with India. He uses every available opportunity to plead to the world that it should facilitate a dialogue with India quickly to end the pressure on Pakistan built up following the deployment
of troops on both sides of the border. This is not to deny the considerable de-escalation of the border tension after the world community made it known to the two nuclear-armed neighbours, particularly India, that an armed conflict must be avoided to prevent
any setback to the ongoing war against global terrorism.
The very fact of massing of troops at the border is telling upon the fragile Pakistani economic edifice. The military regime is finding it quite difficult to bear the extra burden on its exchequer. It does not want to wait till October when the scheduled
Jammu and Kashmir election will be held and after that India is expected to begin its troop withdrawal. Islamabad believes that talks with New Delhi may lead to an early movement of the two countries' forces back to their peace-time bases. Besides the economic
aspect, troops withdrawal will enable the Musharraf regime to fully concentrate on the home front to take on the General's political enemies.
The General-turned-President wants a free hand to ensure that after the coming general election in Pakistan he is successful in getting a puppet government at the federal level as well as in the provinces. He is making every law that he feels is essential
for the realisation of his dream of ruling Pakistan for as long as he can with powers to function as an undeclared king. Hence his latest appeal through his trusted officials to the American and European dignitaries on the way to the subcontinent again to
persuade India to accept the idea of parleys to resolve the disputes between the two neighbours. The General is not a fool. He must be knowing it well that nothing concrete will come out of talks at this stage even if it is finally held. But an early withdrawal
of the armed forces is not in the realm of impossibility.
President Musharraf is, however, not realistic in his approach. He is yet to fulfil to the satisfaction of the world community, India included, his promise of ending terrorist infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir, besides destroying the infrastructure in
Pakistan that sustains the monster. Then he has reactivated the notorious ISI to sabotage India's move to hold a free and fair election in Jammu and Kashmir.
The ISI has been foolishly told to use the terrorist networks it has been patronising to force a section of Kashmir leaders, including those in the Hurriyat Conference, to keep off the election process. People in general are also being terrorised through
fresh terrorist killings to stay away from polling booths. Is this an atmosphere for holding talks? India has never been against dialogue for ending disputes, but that is possible only when there is a congenial environment. General Musharraf is doing little
in this regard.
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