NEW DELHI, Jan 19: Pakistan’s former President Pervez Musharraf has disputed the fact that Pakistani troops had beheaded an Indian soldier in Mendhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir on January 8 and has accused India, instead, of creating “hysteria.”
In an interview with a private television channel last night from London where he has taken asylum, Gen (Retd) Musharraf said no civilised army would do such a thing (beheading) and Pakistani army was a disciplined Army.
Gen (Retd) Musharraf, who on several occasions during the interview lost his cool especially when asked about Kargil, said India had not made any serious attempt to have civilised relations with Pakistan.
He said beheading of a soldier was “inexcusable” but at the same time, challenged that Pakistani Army could have done it.
Even on the question of Indian Army Capt Saurabh Kalia, who was brutally tortured and killed by the Pakistani Army after being kept in captivity for more than 20 days during Kargil war, Gen Musharraf denied that any such thing had happened and said why would the Pakistani Army hand over his body back to India if the body showed tell-tale signs of torture.
“Pakistani would not have handed over the body… Knowing the Pakistan Army, it is not in their culture to do something as horrific as that. No disciplined army will do that,” Gen Musharraf said.
He categorically refused to answer any questions on Kargil.
He accused politicians and media in India of creating hysteria about everything, especially Pakistan.
“Beheading a soldier and sending back his body is inexcusable. Knowing the Pakistan Army, I can say for sure that it is not in our culture to do something as horrific as that. No disciplined army would do that,” he said.
Gen (Retd) Musharraf categorically denied any links between the Pakistan army and terrorist groups and instead accused India of being in league with hardcore elements.
“We are not mad people. Stop painting us as rogues when you yourself are not prepared to admit all the cruelty that you inflict on us. Let alone LoC, what is the logic behind kicking our singers out, sending back our hockey players,” a visibly irritated Musharraf said.
Asked about ceasefire violation by Pakistan, he said he did not know the reality on the ground but peace should prevail along the Line of Control (LOC) and such violations are not in anybody’s interest.
“I don’t know the reality on the ground. All that I would like so say is that peace must prevail and this must stop. No sane person would think that this escalation is in anyone’s interest…I cannot imagine that Pakistan has done this. If they have done this is absolutely wrong. But there is big If,” he said. (UNI)
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