Benazir Bhutto: I Would Have Prevented Sept 11 Attacks Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Gulf News Online Benazir: I could have prevented U.S.-Taliban clash By Salahuddin Haider Karachi, Nov 5--Pakistan's former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, living in exile abroad for the last two years, said in an interview with an Indian newspaper that she could have prevented a clash between Osama and the U.S. and the war in Afghanistan. "If I was prime minister of Pakistan, September 11 would never have taken place," she told the Times of India, asserting that that she could have ensured the execution of the 1996 agreement between Taliban, and their opponents, the Northern Alliance. "Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaida would have chosen another country for their activities," she told the English daily, adding "these tragic events took place because democracy was hijacked by pro-Taliban forces in the Pakistani establishment." Replying to a question about her role given by the international community in any future administration in Pakistan she said that she and her People's Party represent the moderate Islamic political forces in Pakistan. She said, "We are the alternative face to militant Islamic forces. As such, the international community needs to encourage a more stable Islamic world by acknowledging the role of the popular, moderate political force. "This is the perception in the Muslim World that the West supports freedom and fundamental rights in the West but supports dictators in the East. This notion must be disabused so that Muslims are not forced to choose between a Western backed dictatorship and a dictatorship supported by Muslim extremists". About Pakistan People's Party's bipartisan approach towards the recent crisis in the region she said "our party always put the national interest before personal. "It was the same in 1985 when American aid to Pakistan came up for renewal, 1990 when the Gulf War broke out and 1992 when the crackdown against a Karachi insurgency began. We took these decisions because we considered them right." Detailing the two aspects of the insurgency in Kashmir, and the need for tension free South Asia she said: "One is the Kashmiri movement for self-determination. The second is the attempt by non-Kashmiris to dominate the Kashmiri movement. This they did in Afghanistan by taking control of the Taliban. The international abhorrence against terrorism will come into play where the non-Kashmiris are concerned. However, the indigenous Kashmiri struggle will continue to be recognised. It is already enshrined in the United Nations Security Council resolutions. "Having said that, it is still important for India and Pakistan, as two nuclear capable powers, to manage their conflict. "India and Pakistan do not see eye to eye on the settlement. I am unaware of what New Delhi is prepared to offer the All Parties Hurriyet Conference leaders which it has invited for talks. Without prejudice to their differing views, India and Pakistan can take confidence building measures to create a stable South Asia free from regional tension". She further said: "I am worried about the war rhetoric increasing on both sides of the border. Both sides are partially talking to their domestic audience. However both sides do have hawks. "There are those in the Indian military that would like to have a limited battle against Pakistan. They think that it can sort out the Kashmir insurgency. In the same coin, there are those on our side who also feel that a conflict is not one, which India can necessarily win." http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=31475 (c) Al Nisr Publishing LLC - Gulf News Online ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-11.05.01-07:00:41-23086