On his plan to hold elections in 2002: We are committed to the transfer of power. But if you think our reforms can be completed by 2002, I say certainly they can’t. The restructuring we’re carrying out is a long process. It will continue for years–maybe 10 or 15 years. The [goal] is to put reforms in place, set the direction right and then ensure that nobody reverses the process. I’m very sure that by 2002, we will be able to set the direction right. We will also ensure a set of checks and balances at the top wherein nobody will be able to reverse what we’ve done.
On religious extremists: Ninety percent of the people in this country are moderate and tolerant. The [extremists] only constitute about 5 or 10 percent of the population. They are not a serious threat to this government or to stability. They are an irritant. Pakistan is a moderate Muslim state. I’m a Muslim. [Gesturing at a general on a nearby couch] He’s a Muslim. He may pray five times a day, and I may have a different approach, but the voices of the moderates are not heard. We have to let these voices be heard. We haven’t taken on these [extremist] groups head-on. We could have a shoot-out, but that is not our strategy. I don’t want to be distracted from our main goals of restructuring Pakistan’s economy.
On madrassas as breeding grounds for extremism: People send their children to madrassas because of the absence of educational instititutions. We are working to bring the madrassas into the mainstream. Now when students come out of them, they are only qualified to become religious scholars, which leads to the proliferation of mosques. We are trying to get them to include a more modern syllabus, with science and computer education. That way, madrassas graduates will qualify to get jobs in other fields.
On Kashmir and relations with India: We have taken the initiative to ease tension by pulling out troops from the Line of Control, and ordering our troops to observe maximum restraint. India has responded positively. There are some indications that Indian leaders want to resume bilateral talks. We are prepared to talk to them on Kashmir and all other issues. I am prepared to go to Delhi for talks if invited by the Indian government. I keep hearing noises through sources that they want to talk. But I will go only if I have a formal invitation. We want peace, but peace with honor and dignity.
On Afghanistan and U.N. sanctions: I have sent messages to [Mullah Omar], telling him there are five issues that he must address to improve [the Taliban’s] image: terrorism, religious extremism, the gender issue, drugs and the U.N. secretary-general’s representative’s mission. They must not abort that [U.N. peace mission] just because sanctions have been imposed. These are important issues. They have banned poppy growth, although the world must understand that since we’ve imposed sanctions as well, that means we are really telling them to commit suicide. They have to earn money, and how do they earn money? What is their source of income then? No nation will commit suicide; we are putting them against the wall, and we need to think about these real issues.
On Osama bin Laden: I think a middle way can be found on the extradition issue. He can be sent to any third country. [That said,] it will not be a good idea to send him to Pakistan.
