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'The Indian economy may take a heavy blow'15 September, 2001, New Delhi : Former foreign secretary, Salman Haider spoke about the implications of a US strike against Afghanistan in the aftermath of the terrorists attacks in New York and the Washington DC area.
Salman Haidar : Good afternoon friends, I am here to take
your questions. So shoot Tarun : Hello Mr Haider what do you think will be the result of the all party meeting called by the Prime Minister? Do you think we syould open our air space to the US? Salman Haidar : The all-party meeting has just concluded. External affairs minister Jaswant Singh has told it that India does not want Islam to be linked to the global fight against terrorism.He also said that the fight against terrorism should nto be restricted to NATO countries but should included the democracies of the world including Arab countries. There is all-party consensus regarding India's course in the present situation. Maneka : Hello Mr Haider, dont you think that by helping the US we are inviting the wrath of the Taleban mujhaeddins on us? salman haidar : The mujahedden are already active against us. We believe, rightly in my view, that international action to curb them should be strengthened. Rati : Mr Haider Pakistan has allowed use of their airspace to the US planes, what is India doing to show the US how Pakistan is the backbone of terrorism? Salman Haidar : I have not seen any official announcement about the use of Pakistani airspace by America or anyone else, though it is expected that this facility will be made available.Actually, cruise missiles are again fired across Pakistani space at targets in Afghanistan, as happened some years ago, there is not much that anyone can do about it. So far as India is concerned, our first aim, in the present circumstances, will be to lend our fullest support to America which has been the victim of this appalling attack. No doubt people continue to point out that Pakistani policies and actions have aided and abetted terrorism in India and elsewhere. Yatish : How badly is the Indian economy going to get affected now? Salman Haidar : The prime minister has warned that the Indian economy may take a heavy blow . If all prices go up, it will cost India dearly, and the recessionary trend already to be seen will be strengthened. Rajiv : Mr. Haider, what do you think would pakistan react nwo Salman Haidar : Pakistan is in a difficult spot, because it has links with Afghanistan which have been built upover the years and which it presumably wishes to maintain. At the same time, it is being pressed for support by America, which it can hardly deny, even though it could take it on a collision course with Kabul. In these circumstances, Pakistan has reacted with great deliberation. It has promised to cooperate with America, but without any indication of a military component to this cooperation. krupa : pakistan ko america ca satth dena chahiye Salman Haidar : This is a decision for Pakistan. They have decided, rightly in my view, to support American-led anti-terrorist activity. darkavenger : Mr.Haider is it not that america just got a taste of its own pie.. Salman Haidar : Nothing like the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon has ever been seen. The reaction is worldwide is one of sympathy rather than saying that America has got a taste of what it has been doing. I therefore cannot agree with your observation. reetika : is there going to b a 3rd world war? Salman Haidar : The short answer is no Deepak : Now the taleban says that we will attack the country who supports US in attacking afganistan, what do you think the india will be doing? Salman Haidar : This threat by the Taleban will not, and should not, deter India. I would expect that the Indian authorities will continue to cooperate with America, as they have announced that they will do. rshivaprabhu : shivaprabhu- please tell me how long this conflict goes and is it possible to completely stamp out terrorism in a short term. Salman Haidar : Nobody expects that terrorism can be totally eradicated. The hope is that strong international action will help to contain terrorists. rgopi : do you see a possiblity of a civil war in the event of musharaf helping the USA Salman Haidar : Reports suggest that some organisations and groups in Pakistan are opposed to any kind of cooperation with America, and they could take to the streets if cooperation develops, in order to register their protest. They might even have resort to various source of violent protests. However, it is difficult to see this kind of reaction escalating to the level of civil war that you mention. sudheer : Do you think this is the time for us to destroy Kashmir terrorsit bases in Pakistan? Salman Haidar : The bases should be destroyed and the training camps closed down. This have been done a long time ago. International pressure on Pakistan has increased and one can expect that this can act as a restraint. tiger999 : DO U THINK USA ITSELF IS TO BE BLAMED? FOR USA FORMENTED & SUPPORTED AFGANS MILITANS AGAINST SOVIETS ? USA PUMPED IN LOT OF WEAPONS & AFTER SOVIETS WERE OUT OF AFGANS - USA DID'NT DO ANYTHING FOR AFGANISTAN ? Salman Haidar : American policy towards Afghanistan has shown all the ambuguities that you have mentioned. Even the Taleban once enjoyed a measure of US acceptance. However, nothing that America has done in Afghanistan can begin to justify or condone the terrible the strikes against New York and Washington. prashantprabhu : Going by World Press & Media, It appears that India is nowhere in Picture. US seems to be having no plans of engaging India. Nor has it acknowledged India pledge to support. Isn't this a sign of one way relationship? Salman Haidar : India is not in the limelight because there is no particular reason to be there. Unlike Pakistan, which has attracted a great deal of attention, India has no links with Kabul. It is one of the many democracies in the world that have expressed their solidarity with America, and we are informed that there is a great deal of contact at different levels between the governments of the two countries. Notwithstanding knack of media attention, we can expect active cooperation between India and Awerica in the present situation. vipul : Mr.Haider What is your opinion in linking this anti-terrorism fight to a particular religion. It might have deep implications for our country too in long terms. Salman Haidar : Your point is entirely valid. The government has been at pains to delink the fight against terrorism with any single religion as has been emphasized by the prime minister. This is absolutely essentiual ina multi-religious democracy like ours. mdsaleems : Hello salman saab, i think if US and its allies Attacks severly on afgahinistan, afghan will retailete by attacking Inida Salman Haidar : You would have seen threats from Afghanistan to attack those who facilitate America's plans. India is already feeling the effect of infiltration and attack by Afghan-based militants. If such attacks are reinforced, India will have no choice but to meet the challenge with all the resources at its command. ravibwan : In this situation, what Pakistan should do, as per yr opinion Salman Haidar : In my view, Pakistan must rethink its policy of giving support to extremist and terrorist elements while denying that it is doing so. This calculated ambiguity will no longer serve any purpose. Much better now for Pakistan to distance itself from such elements. Sandeep : will terror in kashmir cease after taliban is dismantled by US? Salman Haidar : The Taleban have given shelter to some groups of militants now active in Kashmir. However, these are not the only groups, so their elimination will not automatically mean the end of the problem in Kashmir. It will nevertheless greatly ease the situation.Thank you ver much, it was nice talking to you, see you sometime soon. Bye for now.
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