Zardari speak

In a statement which has warmed the cockles of Indian hearts as much as it has created a ruckus in his own country, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has described militants operating in J&K as “terrorists’’.This is the first time a top Pakistani leader has dared to state this in public and vindicate the stand of the Indian establishment.While New Delhi is still wondering about the real power centre (government, ISI or army) in Pakistan, senior government officials nonetheless seemed delighted with Zardari’s interview to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in which he also said that Pakistan did not look upon India as a threat. “India has never been a threat to Pakistan. I, for one, and our democratic government are not scared of Indian influence abroad,’’ Zardari said in the interview.“Whatever the situation in Pakistan, Zardari is the leader of his country and it is important for us that he makes the right noises. He seemed very positive in New York too when he met PM Manmohan Singh and promised to eliminate terror. This statement actually signals a shift in Pakistan’s stand,’’ said a senior South Block official.Even earlier, Zardari as PPP chief had said that relations between the two countries should not be held hostage to the Kashmir issue. The latest remark is likely to send his popularity in India soaring. According to WSJ, Zardari described militant groups operating in J&K as terrorists and not freedom fighters, as most other Pakistani leaders keep referring to them. Replying to a question, Zardari said he had no objection to the India-US nuclear cooperation pact as long as Pakistan is treated “at par’’. “Why would we begrudge the largest democracy in the world getting friendly with one of the oldest democracy?’’ added Zardari.They (terrorists) killed the mother of my children, so it’s very personal for me, said Zardari in an interview Indian officials say his comments point to a significant change in Islamabad’s position on J&K The President also said that he had nothing against the Indo-US N-deal provided Pakistan was treated on par The Hurriyat slammed the remarks, saying the militants in J&K had always behaved within the ‘limits of humanity’.Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who is being castigated in his own country for his remarks on Kashmiri terrorists, also spoke positively about a free trade agreement with India, stating that he wanted better ties with India. “There is no other economic survival for nations like us. We have to trade with our neighbours first,’’ he said in his interview to WSJ. While Indian officials maintain that they still don’t know who is at the helm in Pakistan, Singh did raise the issue of anti-terror groups operating in the state in his meeting with Zardari during the UNGA meet.India used the joint statement issued afterwards to get Pakistan to endorse three of its concerns—Pakistan’s failure to curb terror groups in their anti-India activities, the increasing frequency of ceasefire violations and the ISI-engineered attack on the Kabul mission. The statement added, “President Zardari reassured PM Manmohan Singh that the government of Pakistan stands by its commitments of January 6, ’04 (on not allowing Pakistan territory for terror activities against India).’’ PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti criticized Zardari for his statement calling Kashmiri militants “terrorists”. “Zardari needs to be updated about Kashmir. Violence in the Valley is on decline. The Kashmiri people have never approved of any kind of violence,” she said. Hurriyat leaders also slammed Zardari.
He imagines Pakistani cement factories being constructed to provide for India’s huge infrastructure needs, Pakistani textile mills meeting Indian demand for blue jeans, Pakistani ports being used to relieve the congestion at Indian ones. For a country that spent most of its existence trying to show that it’s the military equal of its neighbor, the agenda amounts to a remarkable recognition of the strides India has made in becoming a true world power.