DATE=5/2/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN / U-S TERRORISM (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261904
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A senior Pakistani official has strongly 
rejected U-S allegations that Pakistan harbors 
terrorists.  In an interview with V-O-A, Pakistan's 
chief diplomat, Inam ul-Haq, says his country is not 
linked to terrorism and that the allegations are 
"unfounded'.  From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.

TEXT:  Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Inam ul-Haq says 
his country condemns terrorism and has cooperated with 
the world community in its fight against terrorists. 
Therefore, he says, the allegations against Pakistan 
in the annual State Department report on terrorism 
issued Monday are unfounded.

            /// FIRST HAQ ACT ///

      Pakistan has always condemned terrorism in all 
      its forms and manifestations. We are opposed to 
      terrorism. In fact, Pakistan itself has been a 
      victim of terrorism for the last almost two 
      decades, particularly since the initial 
      occupation of Afghanistan by the then Soviet 
      Union. And we have continued to work with the 
      international community to combat terrorism in 
      various forms. In fact, even with the United 
      States we have a cooperative relationship in 
      terms of fighting terrorism.

            /// End Act ///

Foreign Secretary Haq denies the allegation in the 
State Department report that Pakistan supports 
militant groups fighting Indian rule in the disputed 
Kashmir region. The United States and India consider 
these groups as terrorists.

            /// SECOND HAQ ACT //

      Pakistan is not involved inside occupied 
      Kashmir. We have in the past provided diplomatic 
      and political support to the Kashmir cause and 
      we will continue to do so.  That, however, does 
      not mean that Pakistan is in any way involved in 
      violence inside Indian-occupied Kashmir.  The 
      international community has always held that 
      terrorism cannot be equated with national 
      liberation struggles, and the struggle of the 
      Kashmiri people is a struggle for national 
      liberation. And therefore, it cannot be equated 
      with terrorism.

            /// END ACT //

Washington has been pressuring Pakistan to secure the 
custody of alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden from 
neighboring Afghanistan's dominant Taleban faction. 
The United States accuses Mr. Bin Laden of 
masterminding the 1998 bombings of two U-S embassies 
in Africa that killed more than 200 people.

Foreign Secretary Haq says Afghanistan is an 
independent country and that his country cannot be 
expected to interfere in its internal affairs.

            /// THIRD HAQ ACT ///

      Pakistan has been using its influence in a 
      positive direction with the Afghan government. 
      Pakistan in fact has called upon and requested 
      the Afghan government to close down any 
      sanctuaries or any training camps that might 
      exist on the Afghan soil. Pakistan can only make 
      efforts with the Afghan government. It cannot 
      interfere in the internal affairs of 
      Afghanistan. That  would be contrary to 
      international law.

            /// END ACT ///

            /// REST OPT ///

Meanwhile, Pakistan's military leader General Pervez 
Musharraf told reporters in Islamabad the definition 
of terrorism needs to be clarified.

            /// MUSHARRAF ACT ///

      I just want to say there is a difference of 
      understanding on who is a terrorist. The 
      perceptions are different in the United States 
      and in Pakistan, in the West and what we 
      understand is terrorism.

            /// END ACT //

General Musharraf says there definitely are no 
Pakistani-based groups involved in terrorism (Signed).

NEB/AG/gm



02-May-2000 13:23 PM EDT (02-May-2000 1723 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.