'We Very Well Understand The Indian Demands'

Moscow views with deep concern the rise in tensions in relations between India and Pakistan, the main reasonfor which is the unending antinational activities of the extremist groups, based on territory under Pakistanicontrol. We consider that crimes committed including the killing of innocent people in the name of "freedomstruggle of Kashmir" are unpardonable. It is evident their activities have parallels with the activities ofAl-Quieda, Taliban movement and Chechen terrorists.

No state can leave such acts unanswered which endanger its security and threaten its citizens. In thisconnection we very well understand the demands of the Indian government.

We hope that Pakistan recognizes the seriousness of the situation and take steps to prevent and put an end tothe activities of the terrorist organizations, due to whose activities relations between the two South Asianneighbours have come to brink of armed conflict.

The possibility of ending this dangerous crisis, we see, is the complete fulfillment by the Militarygovernment of Pakistan of the promises made regarding ending the bases of terrorists and extremists, which wasalso included in the well-known speech by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on 12 January.


24 May 2002