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| Feb 21, 2000 | ||
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| FLIPSIDE Generally Speaking The
Pakistanis respect the armed forces. After all, they have had the armed
force itself on them at the drop of a braided hat. So when television host
Karryon Thappar interviewed General Pervez Musharraf, everyone crowded
around their televisions. It was the first time since the '82 Asian Games
that so many people wanted to watch Doordarshan. The general, more spit
than polish, came across as extremely reasonable. Or reasonably extreme.
Here are excerpts. By Dilip Bobb
PM:
Let me clarify my position. I am the CEO of Pakistan Inc., a public
limited company with olive branches in various countries. It is my job to
expand our holdings by focusing on our core competence, which, as always,
revolves around Kashmir. I have repeatedly said that this was the core
issue in every one of the 69 interviews I've given since I became CEO. KT: General, or CEO as you call yourself, you have very cleverly avoided my original question. Which was to do with the chair your are sitting on and seem quite attached to ...
PM:
Yes I am attached to this chair. You see, it's made in Kashmir. They make
the best chairs in the world. Look at the carving, it just induces a
craving for anything Kashmiri. All Pakistanis love Kashmiri furniture.
It's the logs they are made from. Now, if we want to break the logjam ... KT:
Can we just move away from Kashmir for a minute. I'd like some answers
which do not have any mention of Kashmir. Now, what about a meeting
between you and our prime minister? PM:
Of course. I love to meet prime ministers. I specially love meeting
presidents. However, if certain presidents decide not to drop by, I'll
certainly settle for Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He seems a reasonable chap. In
fact, I'm prepared to fly to a third country to meet him so we can be on
equal terms. I hear Srinagar is particularly nice at this time of the
year. As I said, a third country venue will be nice. KT:
I'm sure Mr Vajpayee will have something to say to that. Now, what
about Pakistan's involvement in the hijacking? PM:
I have repeatedly said that we should look at the cause rather than the
effect. Solve the Kashmir problem and there will be no more hijacking. We
take hijacking very seriously. Look at Nawaz Sharif ... KT:
And cross-border terrorism? PM:
All Pakistanis love Kashmir. They will use any excuse to pay a visit.
Since your embassy denies them a visa, they find another way to visit that
beautiful state. KT:
My last question has nothing to do with Kashmir. Pakistan has a
history of coups. Do you sleep easy at night? PM:
Very. I go to sleep at night dreaming of Kashmir. I wake up dreaming of
Kashmir ... |
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