PAKISTAN: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CALLS FOR TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESOLVE CRISIS IN KASHMIR
Record ID:
222860
PAKISTAN: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CALLS FOR TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESOLVE CRISIS IN KASHMIR
- Title: PAKISTAN: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CALLS FOR TALKS BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO RESOLVE CRISIS IN KASHMIR
- Date: 23rd January 2002
- Summary: (W4) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 23, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV: U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ARRIVING AT FOREIGN MINISTRY AND SHAKING HANDS WITH PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER ABDUL SATTAR BEFORE ENTERING 0.21 (W5) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 24, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 2. SV: ANNAN AND SATTAR ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE 0.28 3. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 0.30 4. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYING: "Here I would like to stress the need to resolve Pakistan's differences with India, including over Kashmir through peaceful means. Pakistan and India have much in common, much to lose from tension and confrontation and much to gain through cooperation. For the immediate the need is for military de-escalation, but de-escalation and an end to the immediate crisis is not enough. The world does not want another crisis in a few weeks or a few month's time, what is needed are two things...sustained and determined action against extremist armed groups of the kind announced by President Musharraf and an equally sustained and determined dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their differences by peaceful means." 1.42 5. WS: MEDIA SEATED 1.47 (W5) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 24, 2002) (MUTE) 6. SV: ANNAN WALKING OUT OF NEW CONFERENCE WITH SATTAR 1.58 7. SV: ANNAN SHAKING HANDS WITH PAKISTANI PRESIDENT GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF 2.05 8. VARIOUS OF ANNAN AND MUSHARRAF SEATED (7 SHOTS) 2.28 (W5) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 24, 2002) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 9. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN DEVELOPMENT WITH U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND PAKISTAN PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF LISTENING TO CLAIRE SHORT SPEAKING 2.33 10. SV: MUSHARRAF WALKING TO PODIUM 2.46 11. SV: MEDIA 2.51 12. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTANI PRESIDENT PERVEZ MUSHURRAF, SAYING: "And so, the power has been devolved. We are going for elections in October. And I would like to say, having told you that women's seats have been tripled - that at this level what do I want to achieve..the idea behind that. I will ensure the continuity and sustainability of all the reforms and restructuring that we have done in these three years, nobody can reverse them." 3.27 13. SCU: CAMERA OPERATOR 3.30 14. SC: MUSHARRAF WALKING OFF PODIUM SHAKES HANDS WITH BRITISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLAIRE SHORT 3.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 7th February 2002 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Reuters ID: LVA2T2FCO768RBDHM1POHRUAAP6I
- Story Text: U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has met Pakistani
officials on Thursday and called for talks between India and
Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir crisis.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that
parliamentary elections would be held in October to end three
years of military rule.
Annan, on his way to Afghanistan, said on Thusrday
(January 24) the nuclear rivals needed not only to calm
military tensions along their border but also address the
fundamental issues which divide them, including over the
disputed Himalayan state.
His visit came after Tuesday's (January 22) attack on a
U.S. cultural centre in Calcutta that India's government
linked to Pakistan's intelligence services. Pakistan rejects
the allegation.
"I would like to stress the need to resolve Pakistan's
differences with India, including over Kashmir, through
peaceful means," Annan told a news conference with Pakistan's
Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar.
Tension escalated sharply after a December attack on the
parliament in New Delhi which India blamed on Pakistani-based
militants fighting its rule in Kashmir, the mainly Muslim
state over which the south Asian neighbours have fought two of
their three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.
Since the parliament attack in which 14 people died, close
to a million troops have dug in along the now heavily mined
border, backed by missiles, fighter jets and tanks.
"For the immediate the need is for military de-escalation,
but de-escalation and an end to the immediate crisis is not
enough," Annan said. "The world does not want another crisis
in a few weeks or a few months time."
Indian and Pakistani forces traded fire at several spots
along their border in Kashmir overnight, and two guerrillas
and a policeman died in the latest of almost daily clashes,
Indian police said.
India wants Pakistan to shut down militants in Kashmir to
end years of bloodshed that has claimed tens of thousands of
lives. Pakistan accuses India of repressing the people of
Kashmir. It denies Indian accusations it sponsors terrorist
groups, but says it offers moral support for Kashmiri "freedom
fighters".
The U.N. Secretary-General reserved "high praise" for
President Pervez Musharraf for what he called a "courageous"
speech earlier this month in which Pakistan's military ruler
announced a crackdown on Islamic militant groups.
Pakistan banned five groups, including the two blamed for
the parliament raid, and rounded up more than 2,000 people.
"What is needed are two things - sustained and determined
action against extremist armed groups, of the kind announced
by President Musharraf, and an equally sustained and
determined dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve
their differences by peaceful means," Annan said.
India, sceptical about whether Musharraf is genuine in his
pledge to curb Islamic militants, says it will not hold talks
until Islamabad curbs "cross-border terrorism" and hands over
20 of its most-wanted men it says are being sheltered by
Pakistan.
India's foreign ministry said responsibility for the
attack on the American Center in Calcutta, which killed four
and injured 18 others, was claimed by a Dubai-based man,
identified as Farhan, who had links with some Pakistan-based
militant groups.
Indian police said they picked up more people overnight
for questioning on the raid, adding to 55 already being
questioned.
Police have also detained five people near the
India-Bangladesh border north of Calcutta, an official said,
adding that three were teachers from an Islamic school.
Security has been tightened in New Delhi, where thousands
of police and paramilitary forces backed by anti-aircraft guns
are being deployed ahead of Saturday's Republic Day parade
that officials fear could be targeted by militants.
As part of Pakistan's crackdown on militants, a guerrilla
group which India has linked to Tuesday's attack in Calcutta
said its offices in most of Pakistan had been closed down by
the authorities, apart from in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, whose members also fought alongside
the Taliban in Afghanistan, said it had also curtailed its
militant activities in the wake of the crackdown. An official
denied any links with Tuesday's attack.
Meanwhile Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on
Thursday (January 24) parliamentary elections would be held in
October to end three years of military rule.
But the former army commando, who appointed himself
president last year after seizing power in a bloodless October
1999 coup, said "checks and balances" would be implemented to
prevent abuse of power by civilian governments.
"And so, the power has been devolved. We are going for
elections in October. And I would like to say, having told you
that women's seats have been tripled - that at this level what
do I want to achieve..the idea behind that. I will ensure the
continuity and sustainability of all the reforms and
restructuring that we have done in these three years, nobody
can reverse them," Musharraf said.
Musharraf has pledged to stick to a Supreme Court ruling
giving him three years from the date of the coup to restore
civilian rule.
It remains unclear how a new government would be
structured, although Musharraf, who also heads Pakistan's
powerful military, has said he will remain president.
Musharraf last week announced landmark electoral reforms
under which Pakistan's 140 million people -- Muslims and
non-Muslims -- will vote for the same candidates for the first
time since 1977. He also increased the number of seats in
parliament and said 60 places would be reserved for women.
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