Pakistan Moves Back From the Brink

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 23, 2002

Pakistan Moves Back From the Brink

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Pakistan produced an eleventh-hour concession Wednesday night as it sought to avert all-out war with India.

Hours after the Indian Prime Minister had rallied frontline troops in Kashmir for a "decisive battle", Pakistan's military Government pledged for the first time that it would not allow Kashmir to be used for terrorist activity.

A statement, issued after a meeting between President Musharraf and his military and political advisers, insisted that the country would meet force with force, but added: "The Government will not allow the territory of Pakistan, or any territory whose defence is the responsibility of Pakistan, to be used for terrorist activity anywhere in the world."

Pakistan would continue to provide political, diplomatic and moral support to "the legitimate struggle of the people of Kashmir for the realisation of their right of self-determination". But it continued: "No organisation in Pakistan will be allowed to indulge in terrorism in the name of Kashmir."

India has accused Pakistan of arming and training the Islamic militants whom Delhi alleges were operating from bases inside Pakistani-controlled Azad Kashmir. The statement came amid strong pressure from the international community.

Earlier India's Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in a bellicose frontline address broadcast live to the nation, ordered Indian troops stationed along Kashmir's "Line of Control" to "be prepared for sacrifices".

British PM Tony Blair appealed to the two countries to "pause and reflect" before plunging their region into a conflict with implications for the entire world. "This is indeed a very serious and grave situation and the dangers cannot be stressed enough," the Prime Minister told the House of Commons. He urged Pakistan to end all support for terrorism and India to offer a genuine dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Pakistan has repeated its offer for talks with India to resolve the longstanding disputes between the two countries and lower the military tension.

Pakistani military officials said they did not expect a fully fledged war with India, but fear Delhi might launch an airstrike inside Azad Kashmir under the pretext of destroying guerrilla bases. "Pakistan will consider it an act of war and retaliate with full force," a senior Pakistani army officer said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

China Expresses Concerns Over India, Pakistan Tensions: FM

Indian PM: Time Has Come for a Decisive War

Indian Warships Go Toward Pakistan

UNDP Starts Research on Chinese Women in WTO ( 32 Messages)

China Is Among Countries with Wide Income Gap ( 192 Messages)

Consulate Intrusion Incident 'Well Solved': FM Spokesman ( 2 Messages)

Foreign Carmakers Seek More Presence in China ( 4 Messages)

China Sets to Land on Moon by 2010 ( 29 Messages)

Study Shows Chinese Youths' Poor in Creative Ability ( 57 Messages)

Many Hurdles for Free Trade between Mainland and HK ( 10 Messages)

Philippines Engages in Expansions in China's Nansha ( 39 Messages)