NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
In the first 40 minutes of his speech to his nation, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf enumerated how things had gone wrong in Pakistan.
Musharraf admitted that thousands of Muslims in Pakistan had been misled and led to fight wars in other places.
He suggested that the Taliban had misled Pakistan.
However, it was clear that Pakistan had been facing these problems for several years and also that they were widespread.
Whatever the case may be, Musharraf has to set his house in order as Pakistan is today afflicted by terrorism and extremism, and has been so for some years now.
That is why it is the main battlefield in the fight against terrorism, not just a partner in the international coalition fighting terrorism.
In his speech, Musharraf made it clear that he did not want Pakistan to end up as a theocratic state.
Under the circumstances, we have to give Musharraf time to cure Pakistan of its ills, which involves changing the mindset of the people.
When he does that, he may realise that Kashmir is not the problem they think it is and also that the issue can be settled amicably on the basis of current ground realities.
Musharraf chose not to describe the Kashmir problem as being the result of the same intolerance that characterized Pakistan.
While India can give Pakistan time to convert into a moderate Islamic state, Musharraf should also be patient about starting a dialogue on Kashmir till terrorism is eliminated.
We have to see whether he can control the terrorists before India can let its guard down.
Dr K Subrahmanyam, a leading defence analyst, spoke to Ramesh Menon
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ: The Kargil Review Committee's report
RELATED REPORT: Another Pak misadventure likely, warns Subrahmanyam
RELATED INTERVIEWS: 'Ultimately it's the Cabinet and successive PMs who are responsible' 'Our ruling elite is totally indifferent to national security'
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
Call India
