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Musharraf Under No Pressure on Nuclear, Kashmir Issues
Agencies, Arab News
ISLAMABAD, 31 January 2003 — President Pervez Musharraf has rejected the impression that he is under pressure to roll back the country’s nuclear program and compromise with India over Kashmir, news reports said yesterday.
“There is no pressure whatsoever on me to roll back the nuclear and missile programs. We are not rolling back. There is no question. These are our national interests and only a traitor will think of rolling back,” he told newspaper editors in Islamabad, according to the The News.
Musharraf regretted the impression that he was “selling out” on Kashmir.
“Nobody is asking me to give up on Kashmir. We need to move forward toward a peaceful resolution of the dispute,” he said.
“We have national interests. We are devising policies and executing them — but there is no pressure on me,” he added.
In recent weeks, Musharraf narrowly escaped two attempts on his life that were blamed on Islamic extremists.
He became a target after steering his country away from supporting the Taleban in Afghanistan and curbed Islamic extremists at home in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
US Condemns Musharraf Assassination Bids, Defends His Terror Role
The United States Monday condemned the latest bid to assassinate President Musharraf, and said it was “proud” to count Pakistan as an anti-terror ally despite rising criticism in Washington of its conduct.
Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke to Musharraf on Friday following his latest escape, to express “great relief at his safety and well-being,” said State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.
“The United States strongly condemns these attacks against the president of Pakistan,” said Ereli at a daily press briefing.
“We extend our condolences to the families of the bystanders who were killed in these cowardly acts of terror.” Later Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage met Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, to discuss issues including the US anti-terror campaign.
“We are grateful that President Musharraf was not harmed, and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed or wounded in this murderous attack,” Ereli said after the talks.
“We are proud to call Pakistan our ally in this most critical of battles, and are convinced of Pakistan’s staunch support as we work together to make the world safer for our respective peoples and the entire South Asia region,” Ereli said in a statement.
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers (Ran Cohen, pmc, 5/24/03). |
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python (Alquds, 1/25/03. |
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