<

LoC Not Acceptable as Border: Musharraf
Sunday, June 23, 2002
DAWN: The Internet Edition

“... I get a lot of threats. But I'm not scared. I take principled stands whether it is an external or internal threat. Now, I'm facing both. Obviously, I am stepping on the toes of a lot of people.”
-- President General Pervez Musharraf

WASHINGTON -- Source
President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said Islamabad will not accept the Line of Control [LoC] dividing Kashmir between Pakistan and India as the international border.

In an interview with the Washington Post which appeared in Sunday's issue, the president said accepting the LoC as a border or granting some sort of autonomy to Kashmir would not solve the problem. "If the Line of Control were the border, what have we fought two wars for?" he asked.

President Musharraf also said that Pakistan might boost its military capabilities, citing increases by India in defence spending. "If they tilt the conventional balance, we shall have to restore
it."

President Musharraf said the United States was the only country which could persuade India to start a dialogue as "bilateralism has not worked."

To a question, President Musharraf said that after October elections he would retain the authority to dismiss the government if it was found that power was abused.
(More: DAWN.com News Source)
2002 © The DAWN Group of Newspapers.

Dan