Signaling a new hardening of its attitude towards Pakistan, the British Government today indicated that it expected Islamabad to make the first move in de-escalating the tension in the region by putting an end to cross-border terrorism. The Foreign Office Minister, Ben Bradshaw, said that Britain had made clear to President Pervez Musharraf that he must do more to stop infiltration across the Line of Control. "When he does that, we will ask India to de-escalate," he said at a press conference here this morning as the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, prepared to visit India and Pakistan.
Mr. Straw is expected to deliver a tough message to Gen. Musharraf, echoing US President George W. Bush's criticism that he has not done enough to check terror attacks on India. Mr. Bradshaw's remarks appeared to place the onus for the current crisis on Pakistan. This was the first time that a British minister came so close to reflecting the Indian position.
"This is a pleasant departure from the balancing act that seemed to equate the two sides," one India-watcher said. In the Commons last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair asked Pakistan to stop support to any form of terrorism, but emphasized that India must be prepared to offer "a proper system of dialogue to resolve all issues between the countries, including disputes over Kashmir."
The hardening of the British stance was attributed to a lack of any effort by Pakistan in recent days to defuse the situation. The timing of the missile tests by Pakistan was also condemned, critics describing it as "provocative" and in "defiance" of American and British efforts to cool the situation. Gen. Musharraf's threat to take the "offensive into Indian territory" in the event of war and the Prime Minister Vajpayee's remarks that India's patience was running out heightened fears of a military confrontation.
During his visit, Mr. Straw may discuss with both parties how to prevent a nuclear accident. There is a view here that India and Pakistan do not have sufficient safeguards to avoid triggering a nuclear mishap.
Even as Britain was in the thick of diplomatic efforts to avert a war, sources admitted that the "real" player in the region was the US whose campaign in Afghanistan could be undermined by an India-Pakistan confrontation. The visit of the US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, may prove far more crucial than Mr. Straw's.
Seeking to ease the threat of war with India, President Pervez Musharraf has demanded an expansive response from New Delhi, including the renewal of direct talks between the two countries. He rejected criticism that he had not lived up to his pledges.
Asked about the circumstances in which he would consider using nuclear weapons, Musharraf answered this was a scenario "I wouldn't like even to imagine." Instead, he talked at length about the strength of Pakistan's conventional army and irregular volunteers. "Pakistan is no Iraq. India is no United States. We have forces. They follow a strategy of deterrence."
If deterrence fails, "we are very capable of an offensive defence ... We'll take the offensive into Indian territory." Then he added: "I hope and pray that we will never reach that stage. "It's too unthinkable."
Musharraf rejected criticism that his Government has retreated from pledges to crack down on radicals nurtured by Pakistan's intelligence services, including some who have for many years infiltrated across Kashmir's disputed mountain boundary to attack Indian targets. "We will ensure that terrorism does not go anywhere into the outside world from Pakistan. This is our position, and we adhere to it." Musharraf said he knows that "a lot of people are having doubts" about his commitment to forswear radicalism as a tool of Pakistani policy, but he declared: "Let me assure you, there is no backtracking."
