ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to support the United States operation in Afghanistan till the achievement of military targets, but hoped the mission would be accomplished soon.
“The duration of the operations is relative to the achievement of objectives, therefore one hopes that objectives are achieved and operations would be short,” President Musharraf said at a joint press conference held with the Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Chief Executive Musharraf rejected suggestions that Pakistan had fixed some deadlines for rendering support to the efforts of international coalition in its war against terrorism.
Pakistan, he assured, would continue to facilitate the operations in the parameters of logistic support, information sharing and use of airspace as long as the objective to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice was attained.
In reply to a question whether the majority of people in Pakistan were against military operations in Afghanistan, the president responded in affirmative and said that most of them would like to see the operations ended soon.
He said he would urge the international coalition to achieve the military objectives as quickly as possible, and terminate the operation.
On the possibility of inclusion of some Taliban’s representatives in the future political dispensation, the president said there were some moderate elements in the Taliban who could be included in the future set-up.
When a reporter sought president’s comments on the opinion that Osama bin Laden was being projected as a hero, the president said termed it extremist tendencies which were not broad-based. He said long-term actions were required to check such tendencies.
Earlier, the president said in a brief statement that he had a very useful discussion with Mr Powell and added that the visit by the secretary of state had come at a time of great challenge for Pakistan.
“His presence here symbolizes the new, rejuvenated relationship between Pakistan and the United States,” the president said.
The whole range of bilateral issues were discussed and the two sides agreed to work together in order to develop and strengthen cooperation in all areas, he said.
President Musharraf noted with regret that the Taliban did not comply with the Security Council resolutions. “Compliance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the Taliban government would have saved Afghanistan from the damage it is suffering since Oct 7,” he said.
“We grieve for the innocent victims. We regret that the government of Afghanistan jeopardized the interest of millions of its people.”
He said the decision to support the international campaign against terrorism in all its manifestations was based on principles. Referring to the recent OIC foreign ministers’ conference, the president said that the extraordinary session had endorsed this position. “It also denounced the minority and fringe voices that try to cause harm to Islam and Muslims.”
President Musharraf said that during his talks with Mr Powell he had emphasized that the root-causes of most acts of terrorism lay in the political oppression and denial of justice. “In order to achieve durable results, the current war on terrorism must address and eliminate its causes,” he added.
The president said that the situation in Afghanistan had given an opportunity to the world community to focus not only combating terrorism but also on helping the Afghans establish a durable political system, and on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of their country.
“We agreed that durable peace in Afghanistan would only be possible through the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic government representing the demographic contours of Afghanistan freely chosen by Afghans without outside interference,” he said.
Former king Zahir Shah, political leaders, moderate Taliban leaders, elements from the Northern Alliance, tribal elders, Afghans living outside their country — all can play a role in this regard, he pointed out.
Stressing the need for putting in place the political process needed on a fast track for preempting the possibility of a political vacuum, he said political process should not lag behind the fast moving events in the military field.
“Nor should any attempt be made by any warring faction to impose itself on Afghanistan in the wake of military strikes against the Taliban,” he said.
The success of political process would depend on economic conditions, President Musharraf said, calling for an immediate action for economic development of Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan is in ruins, pastures have been destroyed. Millions of mines litter the landscape,” he said, adding that a massive reconstruction work was required to be undertaken.
“Assistance would also be required for the repatriation of the millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran, and for the million of Afghans displaced internally due to fighting, drought and economic difficulties.”
The president stressed that the establishment of durable peace and economic development of Afghanistan would also help in elimination of terrorist who had found a safe haven in the war-torn country.
“That is why, I believe that the military campaign in Afghanistan should be short and targeted, and it should be followed immediately by application of political and economic strategies.”
TIES WITH INDIA: The president said that he had briefed Mr Powell about Pakistan’s desire to develop tension-free relations with India.
“I emphasized that normalization of relations would require that the Kashmir dispute is resolved in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
Kashmir, he maintained, was at the heart of Pakistan-India tensions. “We agreed on the need for the two sides to address this and other bilateral issues with sincerity and with a sense of purpose.
He said the secretary of state had informed him about United States’ willingness to play a helpful role in the resolution of Pakistan-India differences.
“We agreed that peace and stability in South Asia is not only in the interest of Pakistan and India, but also of the entire region and world at large.”