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Vajpayee is a moderate: Musharraf

Describing Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a moderate surrounded by hawks, Pakistan military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf said he was prepared to invite the Indian prime minister to Islamabad in a bid to resolve the Kashmir issue.

In an interview to Gulf News on the day Pakistan expressed solidarity with the Kashmiris, Gen Musharraf said, ''Vajpayee is the only moderate and he is surrounded by hawks, so if we have to move in a substantial way, it can only be done in a dialogue between him and me''.

Striking a conciliatory note by stating that he was ''absolutely willing'' to invite Vajpayee, he, however, added that ''when one initiates such an act, one has to be very careful that the initiative is accepted."

Asked if he would be just as willing to visit India, if invited, the Pakistani leader said ''yes, certainly.''

He said the ice had been broken as a consequence of the recent telephonic conversation between him and Vajpayee when the prime minister thanked him for sending relief supplies for the victims of the earthquake in Gujarat. ''I hope it can lead to further movement towards initiation of dialogue''.

Gen Musharraf said he was encouraged by Vajpayee's recent statement in which he spoke about taking bold initiatives in Kashmir. ''I see a change in the statements and attitudes of the leadership. I also see a change in the public attitude and the attitude of the media.'' He said if public opinion changed, the Indian government would have more flexibility towards initiating a dialogue.

He reaffirmed that general elections in Pakistan would be held before the October 2002 deadline stipulated by the Supreme Court and there was no factor as yet which could cause a delay. He did not specify clearly whether the military would have a constitutional role in governance once democracy was restored, saying instead that his government was looking into ways of restructuring the system.

On whether he would have a role in governance once democracy was restored, Gen Musharraf said, ''We are looking into this aspect (of restructuring) and within this if I have a role to play, I will play it.''

UNI

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