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American Morning

India's Prime Minister May Consider Pakistani Proposal for Joint Patrols

Aired June 05, 2002 - 07:23   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the standoff now between India and Pakistan. As we mentioned earlier, India's prime minister says he may consider a Pakistani proposal for joint patrols along their disputed border with Kashmir. Over the next few days' time we're going to take an in-depth look at the current conflict which has the world presently on edge.

In his book, "Conflict Unending," Sumit Ganguly covers half a century of tension of war between these two countries. He's live this morning in Austin, Texas.

Sir, good to have you with us. And good morning.

SUMIT GANGULY, AUTHOR, "CONFLICT UNENDING": Good morning.

HEMMER: To understand this, we have to go back to 1947, certainly consider the British in this equation. A million dead, seven million displaced. What ignited the region 55 years ago?

GANGULY: What ignited the region was the decision to partition India and Pakistan into two separate states. The partition was made largely on the basis of religion. India, a predominantly Hindu state, became one separate country. And Pakistan was created as a homeland for the Muslims of south Asia.

But it is important to underscore that over 100 million Muslims chose to remain on in India because India emerged as a pluralist secular democracy.

HEMMER: So 55 years later, three wars later, why has this issue not been able to be settled?

GANGULY: The issue hasn't been settled because neither India nor Pakistan is prepared to concede much ground on the disputed status of the state of Jamul and Kashmir. Pakistan currently controls about one-third of Kashmir, and India controls approximately two-thirds of Kashmir. And neither state is willing to make significant concessions about the issue of territory.

HEMMER: Is it your understanding, historically speaking, the nuclear race between these two countries, is it because of Kashmir or are there too many other factors to consider there? GANGULY: It's partly because of Kashmir and because of other factors. Pakistan chose to acquire nuclear weapons after its significant military defeat at the hands of India in 1971.

Pakistan's then prime minister, a man called Zulticar Ali Bulto (ph), came to the conclusion that Pakistan would be relegated to a status of permanent conventional military inferiority against India, and thereby needed nuclear weapons as a counterbalance against India's overwhelming conventional superiority. And thereby he chose to pursue nuclear weapons. And it also needs to be born in mind that shortly thereafter, in 1974, India tested its first nuclear device.

HEMMER: There are indications in recent days -- actually in the past 24 hours -- that a confrontation may be avoided here. What are you anticipating right now in terms of these two countries avoiding conflict?

GANGULY: Much depends on whether or not General Musharraf successfully manages to reign in the militants who have been wreaking havoc in Kashmir over the last several years. And also, if he will show some willingness to start dismantling the infrastructure of terror that has grown up within Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, from where people have come to commit acts of mayhem and murder in Indian- controlled Kashmir.

This, of course, will also involve then India responding by demobilizing its forces once Pakistan reigns in some of the militants.

HEMMER: Appreciate your insights. Sumit Ganguly in Austin, Texas, thank you sir. We'll talk again.

GANGULY: Thank you.

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