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CNN Live At Daybreak

Hopes for Peace Common in Kashmir

Aired May 31, 2002 - 06:01   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: There is a new sign today of the growing conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir. CNN's Kamal Hyder joins us by videophone from the Pakistani-controlled region of Kashmir with more -- Kamal, good morning.

KAMAL HYDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the situation here again Friday, as you mentioned earlier this morning, Friday, and the people in the Islamic world all praying here in Muzaffarabad, also people praying for peace at a time when two third world powers are on the brink of nuclear war. And while the Indian allegations, as we are told there, are that this is al Qaeda and Taliban, the prime minister of Kashmir had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARDAR SIKANDER HAYAT KHAN, PRIME MIN. AZAD, KASHMIR: It is a solution of Kashmir. Ask the people what they want. That is a simple case (ph). Kashmiris are not asking for any more (ph), anything else. They are not asking the territory of any other country, but they are asking for their self-rule in their own homeland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HYDER: So you see what the prime minister was saying was echoing the feelings of the people of Kashmir. It's not about terrorism. It's about self determination for the people of Kashmir -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Kamal, how afraid are the people of that region that war will break out between Pakistan and India?

HYDER: Carol, it is a real concern here. It is a very serious concern here. People don't want to see innocent blood. Every day you see innocent people killed on both sides of the border. So the last thing people want is a major catastrophe in the region. Diplomatic activities have been also very intense, and the words of wisdom coming from the interim Afghan president, Mr. Karzai, when he told both India and Pakistan that all they had to do was look at Kabul before they decided on war or peace -- Carol.

COSTELLO: So are the diplomatic efforts working, and will they work when American officials -- more American officials head to the region? HYDER: Well, the people here are hoping that the Bush administration is taking this very seriously indeed, and to that effect, Rumsfeld, secretary of defense, and the deputy secretary of state are both going to be in the region, and Rumsfeld realizes the importance of this more than anybody else, and therefore, a hectic diplomatic activity.

COSTELLO: Do you see evidence there that Pakistan is withdrawing troops from the Afghan border to move into Kashmir?

HYDER: Carol, so far, Pakistan has not withdrawn any forces from that border. The president of Pakistan, President Musharraf, did say however that if the pressure increased on Pakistan, it would not have any other choice. But the army is very convinced that they will not abandon their allies, especially the coalition forces and the American friends in their war against terror, and they will continue to seal that border even though they may have to withdraw some forces from there -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Kamal Hyder joining us live by videophone from the Pakistani-controlled region of Kashmir -- thank you for that live report this morning.

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