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Atiqur Rahman in Dhaka
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf landed in Islamabad on Friday evening wrapping up his three-nation visit to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and China.
While he kept reiterating that his visit was not aimed 'against' India, he complained both in Dhaka and in Colombo that New Delhi was creating hurdles in the way of peace despite Pakistan's best intentions. He, however, toned down his criticism during his short halt in China.
The short halt assumes significance since Chinese President Jiang Zemin took time out to return to the capital from Baihade, a beach resort 200 km east of Beijing, where the party is discussing the transition of power later this year.
Analysts both in China and Pakistan see this as a sign of Beijing's affirmation of good relations with Islamabad, though some also believe that Musharraf wanted to reassure China that it had no reason to fear Pakistan's growing relationship with the United States.
Talking to journalists in Colombo on Thursday, Musharraf told journalists that Pakistan would not start a war with India.
He, however, added, "We must de-escalate to avoid war. We hope the world powers understand and facilitate the process."
He also claimed that relations between India and Pakistan were at their lowest ebb, and accused India of being 'hypocritical' over not wanting to 'internationalise' the Kashmir issue, since it was already 'being discussed by the rest of the world'.
He also hinted that India was holding the SAARC process hostage and recommended the scrapping of a clause that prevents the association from meeting unless all the members were present.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka inked a free-trade agreement, among other things, during Musharraf's first official visit to the nation.
But it was in Dhaka, where he spent three of his five-day tour of the region, that he faced the most hostility. Though he told journalists before his departure on Wednesday afternoon for Colombo that 'the visit was extremely fruitful and it will strengthen the existing relation between two countries, help us grow together', this was belied by the morose expression that he maintained throughout the visit.
The atmosphere was totally hostile as the people and the press recalled the genocide and war crimes committed by the Pakistan army during the nine month long Bangladesh liberation war.
Just before and during his visit, almost all local newspapers carried articles recalling the brutalities unleashed by the Pakistani army.
This was followed by anti-Musharraf demonstrations in Dhaka University campus, as well as by the main opposition parties like the Awami League, the Communist Party of Bangladesh and organisations demanding the trial of Pakistani army officers on charges of war crimes and genocide.
One of the main objectives of Musharraf's visit was to revive relations with the ultra- right Jamat-e-Islami, which extended unflinching support to the Pakistani military operation against the Bangladesh liberation struggle.
The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan stance, was expected to make Musharraf feel comfortable, but events proved otherwise. First, no one accepted his regrets for the 'calamitous situation' in 1971 apart from Zia.
Then, Dhaka dismayed the visiting dignitary by raising unpalatable demands like repayment of assets left in Pakistan and repatriation of Bihari migrants now known as stranded Pakistanis.
Opposition parties, including the Awami League boycotted him. The Awami League refused to make a courtesy call at his hotel suite.
Only the leaders of the two partners of the ruling coalition government, Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamat-e-Islami called on him separately. A delegation of Muslim League, an insignificant political entity, also met him.
With inputs from agencies
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