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ISLAMABAD, Nov 26: Reiterating support for United Nations efforts to form a broad-based, multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan, President Pervez Musharraf has expressed the hope that any future political dispensation in Kabul will be friendly towards Pakistan.
Guaranteeing Afghanistan’s unity, stability and ensuring establishment of a broad-based multi-ethnic political dispensation were the basic parameters, he said and the whole world felt concerned and was making efforts in this behalf.
The President said this while speaking at the PTV’s News Night programme on Monday evening.
“We recognize Northern Alliance and each composite group of the Northern Alliance. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about, whatever their role be in a multi-ethnic government,” he said.
He said there was a wrong perception that the presence of Northern Alliance in Kabul would be a security concern for Pakistan.
“Pakistan has its own importance with regard to Afghanistan. Being a landlocked country, whatever government comes into being in Afghanistan will be friendly towards Pakistan,” he said.
He was responding to a question on the oft-repeated fear in the media that presence of Northern Alliance government in Kabul could be a cause of concern for Pakistan.
“There is no reason why a future Afghan government, whatever it be, would not be friendly towards Pakistan,” he added.
On having a demilitarized Kabul, he replied that it was not a question of Northern Alliance or Taliban being there, “our assertion was based on our past experience that after the Soviets left Kabul there were atrocities.”
On the socalled ‘hands on’ or ‘hands off’ policy towards Afghanistan, the President said: “Our earlier policy was in response to the policies pursued by the respective Afghan governments.
“In my opinion, keeping in view the culture and the psyche of the Afghans, no solution should be imposed on them. One can only facilitate them whatever home grown political arrangement takes shape there, without any outside interference,” he said.
“Let the Afghans themselves evolve any future dispensation or any arrangement for themselves,” he added.
The President said that all the neighbours of Afghanistan would like to have a friendly government in Kabul, and I am sure, Afghanistan would itself like to have friendly attitude towards its neighbours.
“We always emphasize the need for facilitation of any arrangement and no imposition,” he said, adding whatever they want to do, they should be facilitated in resolution of any infight or disputes. This role is being very well played by the United Nations and Mr Lakhdar Brahimi and we support it.
“A peaceful and friendly government in Afghanistan is required by everyone. All the ethnic groups in Afghanistan are contacting us and whichever government is there, I am sure, will be friendly to us,” Gen Musharraf said.
He said: “We have generally failed to grasp the term Taliban. “There are different ethnic groups in Afghanistan. While the people are clear about Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras, they are not clear on Pashtoons. We mix up all Pashtoons with Taliban. But the fact remains that all the Pashtoons are not Taliban. One is tribal order i.e. Afghan Pashtoons, which was dormant during the Taliban government; the second is the Pashtoon Taliban and third is non-Afghan Taliban.
“The people opposing the Taliban representation in future dispensation, doesn’t mean they are opposing Pashtoons. A vast majority of Pashtoons are there who are not Taliban. It is Pashtoon Taliban about whom the people have fears. Among them as well there are moderate Taliban who are changing their attitude or the dissidents who could be given representation,” the President observed.
About claim that Pakistan has been marginalized, the President said: “Pakistan cannot be marginalized. We are a frontline state in the fight against terrorism. As far as bombing in Ramazan is concerned, I did say that it will have a negative impact in the Muslim world but I never insisted on it. I do understand that until and unless the set military objectives are achieved it could be difficult to give a one-month pause in the action. But I did say that the military objectives be achieved before Ramazan. This I had been saying.
“Secondly, not only Pakistan but everyone wanted that Kabul should be a demilitarized city. The Taliban sitting inside Kabul and Northern Alliance out of it. How can you make sure that Taliban leave Kabul and the Northern Alliance do not enter? We understand it is not that easy. Unfortunately, nobody could perceive the sudden retreat by Taliban which created a vacuum and the Northern Alliance drove into Kabul. But I don’t think, all this has happened by design to let down Pakistan.”
The President said it was the whole coalition and the United Nations who wanted Kabul to remain demilitarized city, adding it was not Pakistan alone demanding it. “It is not a chess board, there are people who react to such situations, more so while there are so many ethnic groups having ethnic interests. Everything does not happen as one desires,” he said.
As for a militaryman, he said, certain strategic objectives were set and one used tactics to achieve them. “In tactics, there will always be some changes according to the situation on the ground and one should not bother the change in tactics.
“To say that Pakistan has lost its importance, due to change in tactics would be a far-fetched conclusion. We should not keep bothering about tactical changes.
“There is no change in Pakistan’s significance, and it is still a very important country,” he asserted.
He cited the frequent and unending visits by important world dignitaries, and emphasized that Pakistan remained a significant coalition partner.
On the decision to side with Coalition in the fight against terrorism, the President said: “We took that decision keeping in view our core concerns and national interests.
“The core concerns are unity, stability and security of Pakistan, the security of strategic assets and the Kashmir cause. Our national interests are revival of national economy, diplomatic and international standing and prestige of Pakistan and the domestic environment,” he stated.
He said had Pakistan not joined the Coalition, our core concerns and national interests would have been endangered.
Pressed to elaborate, the President said: “We were on the borderline of being declared or not declared a terrorist state. In that situation what could have happened to the Kashmir cause. Had we succumbed to the dictates of the extremist minority, the whole world would have acted against us and where could we go then.
“By joining the Coalition, we have gained internationally and the importance given to Pakistan today in the United Nations and other countries could have never been so. Our domestic environment has also improved because Pakistan has rejected the extremist minority,” he said.
The President said: “The extremist elements have exposed themselves, and now I will move against them in a concrete manner so that the writ of the overwhelming moderate majority should prevail,” the President asserted.
“Due to the activities of this extremist minority, our exports were adversely affected and so was the economy,” he added.
“But it was a short-lived affair and we will come out of it. I am sure it will be corrected. In fact, it is being corrected. It is a win situation, all the way round,” he stated.—APP
