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Today's Paper | December 01, 2024

Published 26 May, 2002 12:00am

Change of regime can avert war, says Benazir

KUWAIT CITY, May 25: Pakistan’s former prime minister and chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto has said that the only way to avert war with India is the change of regime in Pakistan.

In an article published in Arab Times here on Saturday, Benazir Bhutto viewed that the change of regime in Islamabad would offer the possibility of halting hostilities with India and would permit a new government to make a fresh start.

Benazir Bhutto blamed the international community for concluding that a military dictator could defuse tension between Pakistan and India or prevent the rise of the tidal wave of extremism that is now engulfing the region.

Accusing President Musharraf’s government for the failure to develop harmony among the political parties, Benazir said Musharraf a great white hope in the fight against terrorism was sinking in a quicksand of his own making, and described his government as a failure, which witnessed a rise in extremism, militancy, terrorism and regional tensions.

In her article Benazir Bhutto said that Musharraf who carried the baggage of being architect of Kargil conflict, missed the opportunity at Agra in 2000, to sign a confidence-building treaty with India. His “longer ranger” politics pits him against domestic political forces polarizing the country. She said it would be far better for region that Musharraf step down and hand over government to the elected representative to prevent the start of armed hostilities with India, and could trigger a nuclear nightmare.

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