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CNN Live Sunday

Bush Tries to Diffuse Tensions Between India and Pakistan

Aired January 13, 2002 - 15:36   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush called the presidents of Pakistan and India to try to diffuse tensions between the two countries. Both sides publicly talked about the potential of nuclear strikes. Now the Bust Administration is hearing a different tone.

For example, consider what both sides say about Kashmir. India claims Pakistan supports militants there. The Pakistani President Musharraf announced in a major speech that he would crack down on Islamic fighters in Kashmir.

CNN's Tom Mintier takes the temperature from Islamabad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Getting an opinion on just about anything in Pakistan is easy. Just ask.

(on camera): Do you think that this was a good speech?

(voice-over): The answers come quickly and freely, especially from leaders of Pakistan's major political parties. We brought them together at a Thai restaurant in Islamabad, evenly divided, two who mostly support President Pervez Musharraf and two who do not.

PROF. KHURSHID, AHMAD JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI PARTY: He was quite firm on Pakistan's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) policy. He was quite clear that we don't want war. Pakistan stands for peace. War has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MIAN M. MUNIR, PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE: He has expressed that Islam is very lenient and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and actually as few people has made Islam in such and such a way that the people are disliking them.

S.A. MALIK, PAKISTAN PEOPLE'S PARTY: They do not allow full space for the political parties or the political leaders to run this country.

ASHAN NOBAL, PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE: One major factor has been, within the context of Pakistan, that we haven't had or we have not let the political process, democracy, to function.

MINTIER: While they may be somewhat divided on the situation in Pakistan, mention India and Kashmir and everyone holds up his hand. KHURSHID: It depends on India. Pakistan has done more than what it could do. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) should (UNINTELLIGIBLE) persuading India to come to senses.

ASHAN IQBAL, PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE: 80,000 people have been killed. There is the largest concentration of army in that tiny valley, where every day there are gang rapes, where there are murders, and nobody takes notice of them.

MINTIER: Missing from the group is this man.

His name is Allama Sayed Sajid Naqui, and political party is called TJP, Tehreek Jafria Pakistan. It was one of five banned in President Musharraf's speech.

ALLAMA SAYED SAJID NAQUI, TEHREEK JAFRIA PARTY (through translator): If Pervez Musharraf wants to change Islam to moderate Islam, we will support him. We have democratic rules in this country. We are far away sectarian violence and extremism.

MINTIER: When asked if he fears a knock at the door by police, he waves his arms. Let them come he says, I have nothing to fear. He claims his party has been targeted not for being militant, but because they are not mainstream, not part of the establishment.

NAQUI (through translator): Who set the policy on Afghanistan? The establishment. They started sectarian violence and supported groups and formed terrorist camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

MINTIER: This may be the last interview granted by Naqui. Most feel in addition to being a banned organization, its leader will soon not be greeting guests anymore. He will be in jail.

(on camera): The crackdown by the Pakistani government on religious or militant organizations did not start after the president's speech but before. Hundreds were rounded up in the hours before the address, and the list is growing. The changes outlined by the president were sweeping and unprecedented. But there have not been any street demonstrations against them. Most opposition has now gone underground and out of sight.

Tom Mintier, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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