Musharraf-Persson Talks: Pakistan-Sweden Vow for Kashmir Solution
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

HARPSUND (Sweden): President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Goeran Persson of Sweden Monday held wide-ranging talks, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of a peaceful resolution of the lingering Jammu and Kashmir dispute for durable peace and development in South Asia.

The two leaders, who led formal talks in the summer residence of the Swedish Prime Minister, also discussed defence cooperation, war on terrorism and agreed on further expanding the trade and economic relations to the mutual benefit of both countries.

“The Kashmir dispute has to be resolved for the establishment of lasting peace in the region - without resolution of the long-standing dispute there cannot be durable peace,” asserted President Musharraf in interaction with media after three and half hour talks, about 160 km south of Stockholm.

Formal Meeting

The talks included two hours formal meeting between the two sides and one and a half hour talks over lunch.

Host leader Persson told newsmen that Sweden welcomes the recent Pakistan-India peace process, urging that “it must move ahead.” The Kashmir issue, Persson said, needs to be resolved for long-term stability and economic development of South Asia.

President Musharraf underscored that three parties are involved in the Kashmir dispute including Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir.

The Swedish leader said they also discussed the strategic importance of Pakistan in the region and called for “sound and strong” relationship between Pakistan and its neighbour.

Persson for Close Ties

Persson disclosed that a Swedish business delegation would shortly visit Pakistan to explore ways and means to further augment the rich Scandinavian country’s trade and economic ties with the important South Asian country.

He identified information technology, paper pulp, and textiles as areas where the two countries can increase their bilateral trade.

In the economic field Pakistan faced problems in the past, but has now shown marked improvement, he observed. “We hope that Pakistan will continue to grow economically on healthy lines,” he said.

President on al-Qaeda

President Musharraf told newsmen that Pakistan has been a leading partner in the fight against terrorism and is moving strongly against Al-Qaeda. “We have been moving militarily as well as politically.”

Pakistan, he said, has arrested about 600 terrorists and “I am satisfied with what Pakistan has achieved in the fight against terrorism.”

He said Pakistan takes a holistic view of the issue of terrorism and said he is confident of flushing out Al-Qaeda.

Ericsson Radar

Replying to a question President Musharraf said Pakistan Air Force and Swedish companies are in touch with each other on the matter of acquiring Ericsson radar.

In response to another question he said Pakistan is looking at various options vis a vis acquiring high-tech aircraft. There are many choices and Swedish aircraft Grippen is also under consideration, he added.

Pakistan, he said, believes that balance must be maintained in the conventional field of defence in South Asia. Pakistan has no intention of ever using nuclear weapons as they are meant for deterrence purposes, he told the questioner.

Answering another question, the President said Pakistan had diplomatic relations with the Taliban but it wanted them to change their rigid attitude.

Talibanization

“We did not support Talibanization,” Musharraf said. He said if the international community had recognized the Taliban, there would have been as many as 70 embassies in that country, who would definitely have urged them to change their rigid approach.

“There may not have been the blowing off of the statues of Buddha in Afghanistan, then.”

Troops to Iraq

In response to a question about Pakistan’s position if asked to send troops to Iraq, President Musharraf stated that Pakistan would go to Iraq only under the United Nations mandate and if the Iraqi people want us to come for rehabilitation of their country. “We do not want to go to Iraq and fail to deliver.”

Swedish Prime Minister Persson, in his remarks, said the international community should fulfill its responsibility in extending its cooperation for transition of democracy in Afghanistan.

“The international community must not forget Afghanistan,” underlined the Swedish leader, who was on crutches following a recent surgery on his hipbone.

Details

During the talks, President Musharraf briefed the host leader about Pakistan-India relations, Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir dispute, the current situation in Afghanistan and recent economic achievements of the country including the vast investment opportunities it offers to foreign entrepreneurs.

“Our interaction has been very fruitful—we focused on boosting economic ties and looked at ways and means to expand trade and industrial cooperation.”

He said Pakistan has adopted pro-poor development policies as it wants to pass on benefits of recent economic success to all segments of population. Sweden, he said, can extend cooperation to Pakistan in the fields of health and education.

Musharraf also briefed the Scandinavian leader about the “reality of democracy in Pakistan,” and told newsmen that there was a “general harmony of views during the meeting.”

Minister for Industries Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Senator Wasim Shahzad, MNAs Malik Amin Aslam, Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, Information Secretary Syed anwar Mehmood and Ambassador Shahid Kamal assisted the President during the talks.●