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CNN Live At Daybreak

India Waits for Musharraf Speech

Aired January 09, 2002 - 06:35   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: India and the United States are waiting for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to give a key speech to his nation. Washington says it is concerned India may be asking too much of Mr. Musharraf. That's the message Colin Powell will give India's number two man in a meeting in Washington today.

CNN's Maria Ressa has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A flurry of diplomatic initiatives within 24 hours in New Delhi, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Paris. India and Israel discuss their fights against terrorism, both saying their rivals Pakistan and the Palestinians must completely denounce violence and terrorism before any meaningful dialogue can begin.

It's a stand Mr. Blair brought to Pakistan Monday and he achieved some results. President Pervez Musharraf condemns terrorism in all forms and promised to outline more measures his government will take against militancy in the coming days.

BRAHMA CHELLANEY, POLITICAL ANALYST: Everybody in India is looking forward to his televised address to the Pakistani nation. Whether that will mark a new defining moment for Pakistan that is going to sever its links with terrorism.

RESSA: Before troops are called back from the border, India says it will wait until Pakistan takes action.

ARUN JAITLEY, INDIAN MINISTER: We are looking for a response in terms of action, and in terms of action, the response which we want now is terrorism must actually come to an end.

RESSA: It won't be so easy. Mr. Musharraf has already made a radical shift transforming his nation from a breeding ground of Islamic militancy to one of America's most important regional allies. But this next step by Pakistan will touch on Kashmir, the trigger for two or three wars between India and Pakistan. India acknowledges it will be difficult, but as a first step it demands the extradition of 20 men India claims committed acts of terrorism on Indian soil.

But India now feels it has the support of the international community in its fight on terrorism. That has eased some frustration here and sets the scene for the meeting between India's home minister and President Bush in Washington later this week.

Maria Ressa, CNN, New Delhi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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