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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Zamir Akram

Aired January 05, 2002 - 18:11   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Now we're going to turn to the situation between India and Pakistan. Tension between these two nuclear powers have eased a little bit, but troubles in the region far from over. Earlier today the foreign ministers from both countries turned out for an economic summit in Nepal, and as you can see the two shook hands. But there are some conflicting reports about whether they actually met in private.

Joining us now with more is Zamir Akram. He's minister and deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Pakistan in Washington.

Thank you for joining us sir.

ZAMIR AKRAM, EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN: Thank you.

CALLAWAY: We have some reports that there was a private meeting. Have you any reports there that there has been a meeting between the two?

AKRAM: Well our government position is that there was a meeting between the foreign ministers -- between Mr. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Incidentally, the picture that you showed was between the -- the handshake between President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee. But our understanding is that there was a meeting there.

CALLAWAY: I'm sorry, could you -- who was the meeting between, and where did it occur?

AKRAM: The meeting was between Mr. Jaswant Singh, the Indian foreign minister and the -- and Mr. Sattar, the Pakistani foreign minister in Kathmandu in the capital of Nepal.

CALLAWAY: Can you tell me what came out of that meeting? Were there any positive steps at all taken?

AKRAM: I don't know anything besides the fact that this meeting took place. I can -- I know what our position is and I'm sure that that is what is being conveyed to the Indian side and that is that we need to demonstrate restraint; we need to de-escalate tensions; we need to use this military buildup; and we need to get down to dialogue to resolve our outstanding issues especially the Kashmir dispute.

CALLAWAY: We heard from Lalit Mansingh, he's the Indian ambassador to the U.S. last hour. And he said that really no positive steps can be taken even in verbal discussions unless we see Pakistan work on the list of terrorist suspects that has been given to Pakistan.

AKRAM: Well let me say this that Pakistan has acted on its own violation in rounding up people -- extremists elements who have been demonstrating violence in the country. But as far as the Indian claims are concerned, we have offered to cooperate with them. We offered a joint investigation. We offered to receive this evidence through third parties such as the United States. The Indian side has rejected our offer and unless we have the evidence, we really can not conduct the investigation and apprehend the people that may be responsible.

CALLAWAY: Are you saying you disagree that the list that he has given you is of terrorist suspects?

AKRAM: These are people who are with -- this is a list without names -- I mean without the evidence. We can not act on the names of people alone. We need to have evidence to tie these people acts of terrorism. There are some people on this list who are not even in Pakistan. So we need to get more in terms of evidence and in terms of cooperation from the Indian side to act on this list.

CALLAWAY: What about a U.S. envoy being sent to the region? Lalit Mansingh was not optimistic about that possibility having any influence on the situation between India and Pakistan. What are your thoughts?

AKRAM: Well, Pakistan would welcome a U.S. envoy. We would welcome intercession by the international community because we think the situation is too dangerous to be left to the two neighbors, particularly India, because I don't think the Indians are in any mood to diffuse the situation because their objectives are not only -- are simply this is -- my view it's just a front.

Basically what they want to see is -- use the situation to gain maximum mileage out of the United States try and derail this relationship between improving the relationship between Pakistan and the United States and they have a domestic agenda. I think they'd like -- Mr. Vajpayee would like to use these tensions to win an election that's upcoming in one of his -- one of the states in (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

CALLAWAY: Well we also heard him say that he did not feel the state elections had any impact on discussions between Pakistan and India. You obviously disagree.

AKRAM: We disagree. We think that there is a far struggle with Indian leadership. There are people who call Mr. Vajpayee a dog. His home minister is considered a hawk. So there is probably -- there are Indians who are saying the same thing. One has to look at the Indian media to see what is being said about this very aspect of the problem.

CALLAWAY: Well I asked Lalit Mansingh this question -- I'll ask you as well. What is going to have to be done immediately so that some positive talks can take place? AKRAM: I think that the Indians must climb down from the position they've got onto. I think they've painted themselves into a corner by taking a position which is unreasonable and unrealistic.

CALLAWAY: Well...

AKRAM: They need to start talking to us. They need to reduce tensions. They need to demobilize. We need to pull our troops back, and we need to start talking about all issues including issues such as terrorism; such as the Kashmir dispute and others.

CALLAWAY: All right. Zamir Akram, thank you very much for joining us...

AKRAM: Thank you.

CALLAWAY: ... and your thoughts and good luck to you.

AKRAM: Thank you.

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