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CNN Live Saturday

Musharraf Condemns Terrorism

Aired January 12, 2002 - 17:06   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: And as we said, President Musharraf's strong words condemning terrorism, also calling for attention to the Kashmir problem at the heart of the rising tensions that are going on between Pakistan and India, and CNN's Tom Mintier now has more on Musharraf's message.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a challenging speech, one that challenged or ordered some of Pakistan's less moderate religious leaders to change direction, or else.

GEN. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN: Islam teaches tolerance, not hatred.

MINTIER: For nearly an hour, Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf spelled out what he feels is needed for his country. He ordered two anti-Indian militant groups banned and placed religious schools, or madrassas, and mosques on notice.

MUSHARRAF (through translator): They teach them terrorism, hatred, religious hatred, in spite of teaching them friendship and brotherhood.

MINTIER: The Pakistani president also sent a clear message on Kashmir, calling on both the United States and the United Nations to seek a solution to the Kashmiri problem.

MUSHARRAF: We should be under no illusions that the legitimate demands of the people of Kashmir can ever be suppressed without their just resolution. Kashmiris also expect that you ask India to bring an end to state terrorism and human rights violations.

MINTIER: President Musharraf also sent a clear message to India regarding the list of 20 people wanted for terrorism on Indian soil, saying no Pakistanis would be turned over to Indian authorities and if evidence was presented against them, they would be tried in Pakistani courts.

The speech was timed carefully, delivered on a Saturday night when the audience would be at its highest. Across Pakistan, people gathered around TVs and radios to watch or listen. To many the challenges presented by their president would have been seen as a threat to Islamic tradition at one time, but apparently not now. "We Pakistanis are happy that the terrorist activities going on in Pakistan will end," he says, "if all the announcements made are implemented."

"Muslims don't need any objection certificate," he says, "for anything. Go to Saudi Arabia and see, do you need a certificate there?"

While the speech went a long way on domestic issues, it may not have gone far enough to reduce current tensions between Pakistan and India. The president says he will continue to offer moral and political support to those opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir.

The president often used the word jihad, interpreted by many as holy war. A word, he says, needs a new definition. It should not, he says, be about arms struggle, but be applied to getting rid of poverty and suffering. The jihad, he says, needs to start now against these problems.

Tom Mintier, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.

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