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CNN Live Saturday

Former Indian Prime Minister Urges Peace Talks

Aired June 01, 2002 - 12:44   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Despite those words from Pakistan's Musharraf, the tensions with his nuclear neighbor India have not ceased. Our New Delhi bureau chief Satinder Bindra joins us live from the -- with the video phone there, to give us the India point of view there.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Well, certainly the Indian official spokesperson has not commented on this CNN interview. But Fredricka, I've been talking to some members of the Indian establishment. They're expressing disappointment that once again, the Pakistani president chose to say, "There is nothing happening across the line of control."

Now despite this disappointment here in New Delhi this evening, we witnessed a peace rally, several hundred people came out trying to convince both India and Pakistan to reconcile their differences. At this peace rally, though, we also noticed a group of demonstrators. They tried to break up this rally, many Indians, of course, very angry with Pakistan, they want the Indian government to take military action against Pakistan.

Now, tomorrow the Indian prime minister leaves for a security conference in Kazakhistan. The Pakistani president will also be there. The international community hoping that both sides can get together, and here in New Delhi I've met former Indian prime minister Inder Kumar Gujral. He's hoping in Kazakhistan both the Indian prime minister and the Pakistani president will get together to talk peace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

INDER KUMAR GUJRAL, FORMER INDIAN PRIME MINISTER: We've become strangers to each other. We have deep grievances against each other. So therefore, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sit together, either by themselves or in the presence of Mr. Putin, at least they can frankly tell each other, without presence of media, as to what harm is being done to each one of them, and to both of them.

BINDRA: There is an enormous amount of domestic pressure on the Indian prime minister not to meet President Musharraf. In fact, his office has already said even before they have left, there's no question. Why such a tough stance?

GUJRAL: His office gets a telegram every hour. So many killed there, so many killed there. Such a thing going on. And General Musharraf's unfortunate obduracy by saying that nobody is going across. This is something which even the world is not buying. So therefore, if prime minister (UNINTELLIGIBLE) gets upset on that, I can appreciate it. And then he is told that all those people that are coming is an illusion, they are not coming. I think (UNINTELLIGIBLE) make themselves more credible.

BINDRA: What is the world waiting to hear from him in al-Marti (ph)? What should he be saying?

GUJRAL: That he means it. That terrorism is no more state policy. That by whatever pretensions terrorists call themselves, a terrorist is a terrorist by any clothes that he may wear, but he remains a terrorist.

BINDRA: Do you think the world has felt misled, perhaps, after January 12, when in a speech, the president said he wouldn't allow the territory of Pakistan to be used for any terrorist purposes and then there's been continued attacks on the Indian side of Kashmir?

GUJRAL: He said it in February also. You see, the misfortune is whether I look at the February speech of General Musharraf, or I look at his recent statements, in one speech he gives three different messages to three different audiences. He has one message for the U.S.A., another message for his own people. But a very harsh message for us across the border. And that is what creates the difficulty.

BINDRA: A very -- if you could, simple, straightforward formula, to get peace into the region. If you had to do it, if you had to advise both sides as an elder statesman, sir, what would you say?

GUJRAL: Well, one thing we must understand is that war helps nobody. Particularly today. And war has to be avoided, banished, not only by words but by credible actions on the part of all of us.

BINDRA: What do you see in the days ahead, Mr. Gujral?

GUJRAL: I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I do hope better sense will prevail all around. I particularly hope that General Musharraf, as head of the state, will not so much think of the uniform that he's wearing, but think more of his civil dress that he must adorn. Civil society in Pakistan and civil society in India want to be friendly with each other.

Both civil societies despise terrorism. Both civil societies want to be friendly with each other. And I think that is a message General Musharraf and Mr. Vajpayee must give attention to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUJRAL: So Fredricka, what we are seeing is a toning down also of the rhetoric from the Indian side. I guess to sum up, things certainly here are not getting better but the good news is, they're not getting any worse. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right, status quo. Thank you very much, Satinder, I appreciate it.

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