US only facilitator not mediator: PM

India sees the US as a “facilitator” but will not accept it as a mediator in resolving Indo-Pakistan differences on Kashmir, Prime Minister Vajpayee said in an interview to the Newsweek magazine.

He offered to resume talks with Pakistan if it fulfilled all its promises to end cross-border terrorism. Vajpayee, asked what should the US role be on the Kashmir issue, said, “That of a facilitator”. On whether the US emerged as a third party to help in settling the Kashmir issue, Vajpayee emphatically said “no” and added “that is why I said facilitator not a mediator.”

To a query when India would pull back troops, he said it would take some time. “Let us see what happens on the ground.” According to the magazine, Vajpayee laughed when asked if he thought Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf is trustworthy and said, “We are prepared to deal with him as he is, but we are cautious this time. Our past experience is not very encouraging.”

He said he was ready to meet Musharraf if the Pakistani general implemented all his promises. “If Pakistan implements all the assurances given to us, then a new beginning can be made. India will be ready to have talks with Pakistan and discuss all issues, including J&K,” Vajpayee said. He, however, said there is no change in Pakistan’s policy so far as cross-border terrorism is concerned and “everyday we are getting reports that infiltration is continuing.”

Asked about Musharraf’s promise to get rid of the terrorist training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Vajpayee said, “That was the promise. There are 50 to 70 terrorist-training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and in Pakistan.” In reply to a question how close India and Pakistan were to the war, Vajpayee said, “It was a touch-and-go affair. I did not rule out the possibility of war. Until the last minute, we were hoping wiser counsel would prevail.”

On whether al-Qaeda elements are in PoK, Vajpayee said the terrorist organisations operating in Kashmir are closely linked to al-Qaeda and other Jihadi groups directly supported by Pakistan. Vajpayee said the al-Qaeda leadership “may be in Pakistan.”

He said he thinks that Osama Bin Laden is alive and that Pakistan knew his whereabouts. Islamabad may not know every movement of bin Laden, Vajpayee said, adding “but broadly speaking, they know where the rest of al-Qaeda and the Taliban are.”

New York, June 24, 2002 (PTI)