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CNN Saturday Morning News
Interview With Maleeha Lodhi
Aired October 27, 2001 - 11:21 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.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Last hour we spoke with India's ambassador to the United States. We are now joined by Maleeha Lodhi, the Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. The two nations have fought three wars. Both have nuclear weapons. And a main bone of contention now is the region called Kashmir.
Good morning to you, Ms. Ambassador. Thank you very much for joining us this morning.
MALEEHA LODHI, PAKISTANI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Thank you.
SAVIDGE: Last hour the Indian ambassador accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists, which they say is obviously a major problem in the ongoing war against terrorism, specifically since the United States has launched a campaign to do away with terrorism. How do you respond to that, first?
LODHI: Well, I think we have to put the issue of Kashmir and Indian allegations against Pakistan in its proper historical perspective. Terrorism came to the beautiful valley of Kashmir on 20th January, 1990 when the Indian occupation force fired on 200 unarmed, peaceful demonstrators.
From then on, we have seen for the last 12 years, a freedom struggle evolve and intensify in the occupied valley of Kashmir. This is a dispute that is internationally recognized. It's the oldest dispute on the U.N. agenda.
This is something that the United States government recognizes -- the Kashmir dispute is a dispute between India and Pakistan, and that a peaceful solution must be found which is in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
I think it's very important not to take the eye off, not to take the focus off the fight against terrorism and the battle that is going on of which my country is a front-line state in this battle against international terrorism in Afghanistan.
At the same time my country has been interested in de-escalating tensions with India, and that is why President Musharraf has repeatedly offered peace talks to Prime Minister Vajpayee. And we still hope that the Indian prime minister will respond to our peace overtures and respond to our desire to resolve the outstanding issue of Kashmir by peaceful means. We would like India to accept that there is no military solution to Kashmir. And I'm afraid we have not seen India yet recognize that. We would like to be on the negotiating table, but we would like to have a negotiating partner who can talk to us. So far, we have not seen that happen.
SAVIDGE: Madam Ambassador, do you think that Pakistan may be given somewhat of a blind eye by the United States, in light of the fact that they're cooperating in the effort against Afghanistan?
LODHI: Well, you know, your question begs another question: A blind eye for what? My country has been in the forefront in the fight against terrorism before this war. My country was the front-line state even 20 years ago when we jointly struggled against the then- Soviet Union. My country has been in the forefront of international peacekeeping efforts.
So really, the question is a blind eye towards what?
SAVIDGE: Well, I guess it's the feeling, perhaps, by some that Pakistan may be able to proliferate some activity in Kashmir without fear of the United States condemning it because of the fact that Pakistan is thought to be doing a favor for the U.S. currently.
LODHI: Well as I said, my country stands for a peaceful resolution of the outstanding conflict in Kashmir. We would like other countries to be involved in this to find a peaceful resolution which is acceptable to the people of Kashmir.
There's no question of anybody turning a blind eye to something that Pakistan is doing. We do extend diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri freedom struggle, and that's what it is: a freedom struggle.
Now, I think any effort to try to malign that struggle, taking advantage and exploiting the situation as it exists now, would be hugely irresponsible from our point of view, and from the international point of view.
And I'm saddened to hear that the Indian government, instead of responding to our overtures for peace and for a peaceful resolution of Kashmir, is trying actually, perhaps irked by the fact that my country has become a front-line state again, and therefore a prominent member of the global coalition, is trying to stoke up tensions in the region which, frankly, neither India nor Pakistan can afford right now.
There are two nuclear-armed neighbors, and we need to exercise the utmost restraint, which is exactly what my government is doing right now.
SAVIDGE: Madam Ambassador, we thank you very much for your time this morning. Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi is the Pakistani ambassador to the United States. Again, thank you.
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