July 6, 2003	Sunday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 5,1424

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ISLAMABAD, July 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday he was ready to show flexibility with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) on issues concerning the Legal Framework Order (LFO), including his uniform, but he would not discuss anything outside the ambit of the LFO.

Speaking at a press conference at the airport on his arrival from a tour of four countries spread over 20 days, Gen Musharraf said in previous discussions, contentious matters about the LFO had been narrowed down to three points, Article 58(2)(B), the National Security Council, and his uniform, but all of a sudden a long list of 17 demands was put forward.

“Flexibility, yes, it is there from our side, but not on other matters,” he said referring to the MMA’s demand for enforcement of the Shariat law in the country, and transformation of the country’s banking system to a non-interest regime.

He said if they (MMA) wanted to discuss the LFO, it could be done tomorrow, but they should not change the goalposts.

The president almost ruled out the possibility of any talks with the PPP and the PML-N, saying they were serving the interests of certain individuals sitting outside the country. Without naming the PPP and the PML-N, the president said they were getting instructions from abroad, and they were least concerned about stability in the country.

“They are not speaking what they think and believe, but what some people sitting outside Pakistan want them to say. They are worried about certain individuals, that is their problem.”

He said he was asked questions about sustainable democracy, and he had told the questioners that he was all out for sustainable democracy and all his reforms were aimed at it.

The president said he had no immediate plans to wrap up the present system. Asked if he was planning to dissolve parliament, which seemed opposed to his plan of continuing to hold the post of COAS and also of president, he smiled and said he would not make his intentions public even if he was thinking of it (dissolving parliament).

The president said he had no plans to cut short the ongoing democratic process, and wanted that sustainable democracy should flourish in Pakistan, ushering in a new era of peace and stability. There should be stability in the country, he added.

The president said that in a democracy, the majority has the final say, and the majority in parliament was with him. It has passed the budget.

The president said he was aware that in his absence, the MMA had given a protest call and he also knew that it was not heeded by the people. He said the religious parties should work for sectarian harmony, and should help the government in checking Quetta-like incidents.

KASHMIR: The president reassured the nation that he had made no clandestine deal with any world power on the “core” issue of Kashmir or Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

He also made it clear that he had not yet taken a final decision on sending troops to Iraq and neither had he decided to recognize Israel.

Kashmir, he said, was still the “core issue”, and no breakthrough was possible without addressing it first and there could be no compromise on the country’s nuclear programme.

“Nobody has asked us to change our Kashmir policy or end our nuclear programme. There is no compromise and there will be no compromise on Kashmir and nuclear assets,” he said.

The world leaders he met, the general said, were worried about terrorism, spread of narcotics trade, and non-proliferation of nuclear assets. “We too want all this. Pakistanis should understand they are part of this uni-polar world and cannot live in a vacuum,” he said.

The president spoke at length about his visit to the US, the UK, Germany and France, and the issues he discussed with the world leaders.

He said he had not embarked on this visit with a begging bowl in his hands. The aim of the visit was to project four things: Pakistan as a progressive Islamic state, the improved law and order situation in the country, removal of misconception of the secret agencies’ role in Afghanistan and Kashmir, and informing investors that Pakistan provided an ideal opportunity for investment.

Gen Musharraf said he achieved all the objectives of his visit, but felt “belittled” when a gory incident in Quetta took place at the fag end of his visit.

He said none of the leaders he met had asked him to change in Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. They, in fact, acknowledged that Kashmir was the main issue between Pakistan and India, and all the leaders he met wanted to facilitate the talks on Kashmir.

“But the bottom line is both Pakistan and India have to decide the matter.” He said that no roadmap was discussed for the solution of Kashmir issue.

NUCLEAR ASSETS: The president said none of the leaders had asked him to roll back Pakistan’s nuclear programme. He said he told the world why Pakistan had developed the nuclear programme. “We live in a region where we need it for our security. The world leaders only want that Pakistan should not proliferate its nuclear technology. We too are against proliferation of nuclear technology,” he said.

He said he had not committed that Pakistan would send troops to Iraq. “I have made no commitment whatsoever. We have been asked to send two brigades of troops, but there are very sensitive issues involved, and we have to first discuss those, and also take the Muslim countries into confidence.”

The president said there was a demand of two brigades of troops, one brigade by United States, and one by UK. “The matter is under discussion and Pakistan has its concerns and until those are not removed, no Pakistani troop will go to Iraq.”

“We want to go to Iraq, but not without a cover.” He talked of three possible covers — the UN, the OIC, and the GCC countries.

Asked if he would like the matter to be debated in parliament before it was finalized, the president said with a little hesitation: “Yes, it should be discussed at all levels, at the cabinet level, and also in parliament. There is no harm in discussing the matter in parliament, but let it first start working seriously,” he said smilingly.

ISRAEL: The president said Palestinians and Israelis were holding meetings and discussing the road map to peace, and if the peace process moved ahead, Pakistan should also reconsider its policy. “The dispute is between Palestinians and Israelis, and if they are ready to co-exist peacefully, why can’t we change our policy.” He said in his view,”we should not be more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves.”