The Hindu : Pak. armed forces can face any challenge, says Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 12, 2003

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International

Pak. armed forces can face any challenge, says Musharraf

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD APRIL 11. The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, today referred to the "prevailing geo-strategic environment in the region" and said that the armed forces of Pakistan can face any challenge with courage and fortitude. He was addressing Garrison officers in Peshawar.

Since the day the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, made the statement that India had a better case for pre-emptive strikes against Pakistan than the United States had against Iraq, Islamabad has lost no opportunity to match rhetoric word-by-word.

Diplomatic and political observers here see the latest war of words as a clear indication that dialogue between India and Pakistan is just not on the cards.

In fact, their worry is the possibility of a further deterioration in the already strained ties.

It has not gone unnoticed here that in his brief interview to the Pakistan Television (PTV), the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, did not talk about the U.S. desire to see Pakistan and India at the negotiating table.

The last time the U.S. State Department made the suggestion, Mr. Sinha had reacted by asking why the U.S. did not negotiate with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein.

It is against this background that today's address of Gen. Musharraf is to be seen. He lauded what he termed as the motivation, devotion to duty and professionalism of the armed forces during the recent military build up by India along the border.

Expressing his complete "satisfaction" over the state of preparedness of the Pakistan armed forces, he stressed the need for intensive peacetime training in order to maintain and enhance a qualitative edge over the adversaries. He claimed that the policies of the last three years had contributed in strengthening the national economy and security, safeguarding its vital strategic interest.

The Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, addressing a meet the press programme at the Hyderabad Press Club, said India would not be allowed to "escape from solving the core issue" of Jammu and Kashmir.

He claimed that sooner or later New Delhi would have to hold talks with Pakistan and the Kashmiris to resolve the issue. An early solution to this core issue would also be in India's interest, he said.

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Pak. armed forces can face any challenge, says Musharraf