New Delhi: Pakistani government should cooperate in the Mumbai attacks case and those behind it should be punished, former President Pervez Musharraf has said even as he criticised India for “creating war hysteria” over the issue.
“It was most unfortunate. It was a terrorist act. Terrorists have no nationality,” Musharraf said at a seminar when asked for his comment on the Mumbai attacks which was different from earlier terror acts.
“Pakistan government should cooperate because a terrorist act has taken place and anyone who has done it should be punished,” the former military ruler said.
He, however, said he could not say whether the attack had originated from Pakistan as he was “not privy” to details furnished by India.
At the same time, he was critical of India for saying on the very next day of the attack that it had originated from Pakistan.
“Shall we say the same about Lahore (attack)? People here should give considered statements,” Musharraf said.
Accusing India of creating “war hysteria” amid suggestions for surgical strikes after the attacks, he said with a warning tone “These are serious situations. Pakistan also has armed forces.”
‘Change attitude towards Pak’
India and Pakistan must change the way they treat each other and bury a “dirty past” to tackle growing militancy in the region together, Musharraf said further.
“The past has been dirty, the past has been bad, but don’t put the blame on Pakistan,” Musharraf said. “You tried to do damage to us, we were not sitting idle, we tried to damage you.”
He said both countries were to be blamed for decades of mistrust and dispute, but now need to move ahead.
“There is a need for attitudinal change, more in India less in Pakistan,” the former Army General said, referring to India’s regular allegations that Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), and the Pakistan Army were behind militant strikes in India.
Pakistan and India have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947 and came to the brink of a fourth after gunmen attacked the Indian Parliament in December 2001.
India also paused talks on a peace process between the two countries after it blamed Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba for the Mumbai attacks last November in which nearly 170 people died.
India says its nuclear-armed rival has done little to clamp down on militant activity on its soil.
Musharraf asked India to stop what he described as “Pakistan bashing” and instead urged New Delhi to help the ISI and Pakistan’s Army fight militancy in the region.
“Help the Pakistan Army and the ISI to tackle them (militants) and please don’t malign them,” the former Army Chief said, adding that Pakistan’s Army and the ISI wanted peace with India.
The former President, who stepped down in August last year, said the Army and the ISI were the best bets to fight the growing influence of the Taliban and militancy in Pakistan.
“Please don’t create misunderstanding in the world against the ISI and the Army,” he said.
Pakistani authorities have been criticized after gunmen fired at the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on Tuesday.
“Pakistan is critical under the present circumstances to fight terrorism and extremism, Pakistan is critical to bring peace in the region,” Musharraf said.
The former Army General said the solution to end militancy in the region lay in finding a peaceful solution for Kashmir.
‘Handing over Dawood won’t help’
“Even if he (Dawood Ibrahim) is handed over, relations (between India and Pakistan) will not improve. I challenge,” Musharraf stated at the event when asked whether Pakistan could hand over Dawood as a confidence building measure.
When suggested that it may be given a try, the retired General said “if we fail, you will hand him over back to us.”
Musharraf, while interacting at the conclave, earlier claimed that he did not “know at all if he (Dawood) is in Pakistan”.
He made the claim, which was received with disbelief by the audience, even while underlining that India and Pakistan must not harbour each other’s terrorists.
Source: www.nhatky.in
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