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People want us to talk, Musharraf tells India

     New Delhi: Sounding a note of cautious optimism about the outcome of his three-day visit to India, the second to this country in less than four years, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said that failure was no longer an option for either New Delhi or Islamabad in resolving their bilateral differences, as the people of both countries were keen that their leaders talk peace and normalcy. In a speech delivered at a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh at the Ashoka Hotel in the heart of the Indian capital, Musharraf said that while he would love to watch the cricket match between India and Pakistan on Sunday, he was also here to amicably "discuss all issues, all disputes" with the Indian leadership keeping in mind their resolution was in the long-term interest of the people of Pakistan and India.

     Beginning his speech on a personal note, he thanked Prime Minister Singh for inviting him, his wife and the Pakistani entourage to Delhi to watch the sixth and final one day match between India and Pakistan. He said he and the others accompanying him were looking forward to the game on Sunday irrespective of which side ended up being the winner. He also thanked the Prime Minister for hosting a private dinner for his mother, elder brother and son at their residence when they had come on a visit to India last month. He said that he and his family would remember this gracious gesture for the rest of their lives. Warming up, he said that he come to India with a message of peace and harmony from the people of Pakistan. Dwelling on the existing status of relations between India and Pakistan, he said he was happy to see a seachange in ties that neither the people in Pakistan nor in India could have ever hoped for in the previous decades. Harking back to the failed Agra Summit of 2001,which he had attended, Musharraf said that when he had come to India then, there was an atmosphere of attrition, tension and distrust. Now, with the series of confidence-building measures put in place by the two sides over the last year or two, there was an atmosphere of cordiality, peace and harmony in which both sides were agreeable to discuss issues of mutual concern.

      He said that the time had come for conflict resolution, as people on either side wanted their leaders to come forward and work towards a long-term peace. Earlier, in his speech, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Musharraf, that for the peace process to succeed, India and Pakistan must fight terrorism in the region together. "For the peace process to be carried forward, acts of terrorism must be prevented. We must together fight the scourge of terrorism in our region," he said. Singh said that it was impossible to rewrite the past, but a more secure future can be built. He also called for practical ways and means to resolve all outstanding issues between the two nations. The banquet was full of personal touches, especially after Musharraf's family met the PM's family. In a statement earlier, Musharraf said he expected to hold purposeful talks with the Indian leadership on all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, particularly the Kashmir dispute. "The composite dialogue and the people-to-people contact in the last 15 months have created goodwill in both countries, and an improved political environment," he said. "We need to see the unique opportunity to address all our bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir," he added. On Sunday, Musharraf will watch the cricket match between the two countries for an hour and a half at Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla stadium. "I look forward to an interesting Pak-India cricket encounter in last ODI in Delhi," he added. He will then hold a one-on-one meeting with Singh, following which the General will meet President APJ Abdul Kalam and leader of the opposition L K Advani. Also on his agenda are meetings with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Hurriyat leaders.

Traffic snarls hit Central Delhi as Musharraf lands (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Traffic movement in the Indian capital literally hit a roadblock soon after Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's carcade began its movement out of the technical area of Palam Airport. Traffic snarls were reported on the inner Ring Road, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Moti Bagh, Shanti Path, most of the posh Chanakyapuri area and arterial roads leading to the Prime Minister's 7 Racecourse Road residence, the Ashoka Hotel and the Hotel Taj Mansingh. Traffic police stopped vehicles at various crossings leading up to the Ashoka Hotel where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is hosting a dinner for Musharraf and his entourage this evening. A number of tired drivers and passengers could be seen expressing their irritation over these unscheduled stoppages because of VVIP movement. Some spoken to on condition of anonymity, said that it would have been appropriate for the concerned authorities to informed offices to shut down early to enable their employees to return to their homes well before Musharraf's arrival. The area around the Taj Mansingh Hotel has also been declared out of bounds, as the Pakistan President and his entourage have been booked in 70 rooms there. Earlier, Musharraf reached Delhi and was received by External Affairs Minister K.Natwar Singh. In a statement, Musharraf said he expected to hold purposeful talks with the Indian leadership on all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, particularly the Kashmir dispute. "The composite dialogue and the people-to-people contact in the last 15 months have created goodwill in both countries, and an improved political environment," he said. "We need to see the unique opportunity to address all our bilateral issues including Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Musharraf, the media charmer is in town (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Even before the Indian batsmen face the fury of Pakistani bowlers on Sunday, it seems the Indian media has been bowled over by the Pakistani President. From the time of his touchdown at the Sanganer airport in Jaipur, every possible engagement of the General has found live-coverage in television and extensively in print. Television Channels focussed on Musharraf's body language, to what the President and his Begum wore and to what the selected chefs at the Hotel Taj Mahal prepare for their distinguished guests. Even a background briefing by the Foreign Secretary attracted some 20 camerapersons, many of them telecasting the briefing live. Some of the visiting Pakistani journalists, from the 38 who are in New Delhi to cover their President's visit, too joined the briefing. But the print journalists and reporters have no reason for joy, as there is not a single "byte" opportunity from any of the leaders. The entire official engagement charted out by the Ministry of External Affairs has been confined exclusively to visual media and journalists have to literally get leaks from their contacts.

Tight security around Musharraf's Delhi abode (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: There is an air of quiet efficiency around the Taj Mahal Hotel where Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is staying during his three-day visit in India. While the hotel is functioning normally, the high-profile visitor and his guests are being given red carpet treatment and the hotel staff is bending backwards to ensure that the guests do not suffer any inconvenience. Black cat commandos have been placed at each of the hotel's gates and the Delhi Police is manning the outer ring. The entire stretch of Mansingh Road on which the hotel is located has been blocked off. The route in and out of the hotel will remain blacked till Musharraf's stay in Delhi and it is expected that security details will be deployed on the rooftops of all high rises near the hotel by this evening. Much against its will, the media has been denied access to the hotel and they had to be satisfied with long shots and a close look at the Madrasa Imtiaz-ul Uloom Masjid Majeedia located outside the hotel. The head of the masjid hopes that the VIP visitors will pay a visit. They are also proud that another unit of the masjid is located at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Many wonder whether the Pakistani cricketers will have an opportunity to visit the masjid outside the ground to pray for a possible series win.

     Meanwhile, the VVIP visitors, including journalists from Pakistan, are looking for shopping opportunities in the heart of Delhi in such places like Connaught Place and Chandni Chowk. The popular eating joint -- Karims -- is also preparing an assortment of delicacies in anticipation of a possible visit by the Pakistani guests.

NDMC hands over Musharraf's birth certificate to PMO (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: With the feel good factor reshaping the Indo-Pak ties and the cricket diplomacy driving the bilateral relations, the two countries are trying to bank on their common background. It's a pleasant co-incidence that the Prime Minister of India was born in Pakistan and the President of Pakistan was born in India. Trying to put an official stamp on it, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) today handed over a birth certificate to the Prime Minister's Office, assuming that General Musharraf is the son of a Mr. Musharraf who had three children born in 1941, 1942 and 1945. "We have handed over birth certificates for all three entries to the Prime Minister's Office," NDMC spokesman Madan Thapliyal said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hand over General Musharraf a copy of his birth certificate as a surprise gift. Musharraf recently gave Singh a photo album of his home village in what is now Pakistan, along with some of his school reports. New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) found entries for two male children born on August 11, 1942 and July 22, 1945, respectively, both identified as 'son of Musharraf' and another entry dated 1941 for a female child. They were delivered at the Lala Girdharilal Maternity Hospital in the Kamla Market area. According to Thapliyal, the entry of a girl child born on July 19, 1941, was identified as 'daughter of Musharraf, son of Shaiffudin'. "The first certificate dated 1941 is of a female child, 1942 of a male child and 1945 of a male child. The name of the father in all the certificates is mentioned as Musharraf, son of Saifuddin. All these three records have come from Raja Girdhari Lal Maternity Hospital," said Thapliyal. During her visit to the capital last month, Musharraf's mother Begum Zarin had expressed her desire to get the birth certificates of her three children. She had also visited the hospital where Musharraf was born. But some newspaper reports and Musharraf's official website give his date of birth as August 11, 1943, but NDMC could not find any entry for that date.

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