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CNN Saturday Morning News

Musharraf Makes Gesture of Friendship to India

Aired January 05, 2002 - 07:17   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: A significant moment sparked applause today at the South Asian summit in Nepal. The Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf shook hands with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The world is watching the gathering in Katmandu for signs of thawing relations between the two nations.

CNN's Michael Holmes is also watching the event, joins us live by videophone with the latest. Michael?

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Marty, good evening from Katmandu, Nepal.

Indeed, it was a reassuring sign that kicked off the summit here. General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan condemning terrorism in his speech, and then a dramatic gesture:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN: Before I step down from this podium, I would like to use this exalted forum of the south to extend a hand of genuine, sincere friendship to Prime Minister Vajpayee.

ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.

MUSHARRAF: Let us together commence a journey of peace, harmony, and progress in South Asia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: It was a PR masterstroke from the man that Indian journalists are now calling the TV general. Well, in return for that hand of friendship, the Indian prime minister smiled, raising hopes that the ice had been broken.

Well, not really. The Indian prime minister got up to make his speech, said he welcomed the gesture, and then got tough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAJPAYEE: I'm glad that President Musharraf extended a hand of friendship to me. I have shaken his hand in your presence. Now President Musharraf must follow this gesture by not permitting any activity in Pakistan or any territory in its control today which enables terrorists to perpetrate mindless violence in India.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The Indians skeptical, I think it's fair to say, the Pakistanis disappointed with how Mr. Vajpayee responded to that warm handshake.

Now, what happens next? Well, tonight there are meetings going on around the city of Katmandu. It's unlikely, though, I have to report, that the two leaders will get together. There is an outside hope that maybe the foreign ministers might meet and discuss the situation informally, although that too is by no means certain -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Michael, one of the questions raised in diplomatic circles is why no U.S. envoy has been dispatched to this region. If that were to happen, how do you think that envoy would be received?

HOLMES: Well, the Pakistanis, Marty, have always been open to international mediation. They said that all along. They said today, when reports came through that the U.S. secretary of state, Colin Powell, had suggested he was considering such a move -- sending an envoy -- Pakistanis said, Fine by us.

The Indians, on the other hand, consider an envoy getting involved in the issue of Kashmir as interference by a third party, and the foreign minister, Jaswant Singh, I spoke with him earlier along with other reporters, he said, quote, he was "not thrilled" by the idea. I'll just read you what he said, because it was fairly frosty. He said, "I've not been asked about any such matter of a special or, for that matter, ordinary envoy. The U.S. has missions," that is, embassies, "in both New Delhi and in Islamabad, and unless they are not up to the task, I don't see where the need is for a special envoy."

He was fairly frosty about the whole thing, even when somebody said how he -- asked how he felt about Pakistan now being something of an ally with the U.S. He said, "If Pakistan is an ally to the United States, well, good luck to the United States" -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Interesting response. CNN's Michael Holmes, joining us live from Katmandu, thank you.

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