India is concerned that the impeachment of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf may leave a 'big vacuum' that will give freedom to radical extremist elements to do what they like in this country.
In the first significant comment by anyone from the government about the imminent impeachment process in Pakistan, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan said it is the political vacuum that exists there that 'greatly worries us'.
Pakistans's ruling parties threaten to impeach Musharraf
In an interview to Singapore daily The Straits Times, he said it was not important from the Indian point of view if President Musharraf was impeached or not.
"But it leaves a big vacuum and we are deeply concerned about this vacuum because it leaves the radical extremist outfits with freedom to do what they like, not merely on the Pak-Afghan border but clearly on our side of the border too," Narayanan said.
Pressure mounts on Musharraf to quit
"Like nature abhors a vacuum, we abhor the political vacuum that exists in Pakistan. It greatly worries us," he said.
Maintaining that the situation was evolving in such a manner that nobody could quite reach a conclusion, Narayanan said they thought President Musharraf's impeachment might not take place.
Musharraf set to become first non-functional prez
"And if at all he has to go, he will be allowed to go in grace and some sort of a compromise would be reached. Obviously that is not happening," he said.
He said a large number of people in Pakistan People's Party were unhappy about Benazir Bhutto's assassination and most of them attribute it to the Inter Services Intelligence or some such agency. "While Zardari may be more conciliatory towards Musharraf, the general temper seems to be otherwise," he said.