World reacts cautiously to Pakistan coup leader's speech

October 19, 1999
Web posted at: 1:20 a.m. HKT (1720 GMT)

In this story: Pakistan banned from summit Kashmiri militants 'heartened' RELATED STORIES, SITES

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan William Milam said Monday that the United States is ready to give Pakistan's new military leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, time to make good on promises he made in a speech on Sunday.

VIDEO CNN's Nic Robertson is in Pakistan with reaction to Musharraf's speech (October 18) Windows Media 28K 80K Watch Gen. Pervez Musharraf's televised address (October 17) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     ALSO Pakistan begins troop withdrawal from Indian border     RESOURCES TIME: Q&A With Amen Rais TIME: A Strongman Shaken TIME: Can't Stop the Madness TIME: Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan and India MESSAGE BOARD: Pakistan today     INTERACTIVE WHO'S WHO?: Get more details on these key players in our interactive profile.   Launch it. Or, choose a quick profile below:  Nawaz Sharif  Gen. Pervez Musharraf  Benazir Bhutto Choose a key player above. An interactive flashback to key dates in Pakistan's history

Musharraf took over the government in a bloodless coup October 12. In a televised broadcast Sunday, he outlined his plans and priorities of the military regime, including a military de-escalation along the Indian border.

Milam said the United States is "confident Gen. Musharraf is a moderate man who is acting out of patriotic motivation and was provoked into what he is doing."

A U.S. administration official, however, expressed disappointment that Musharraf "had not specified a quick and immediate timetable to return to democracy."

Reaction from other counties to Musharraf's speech was less than encouraging.

Pakistani troops began pulling back from the Indian border on Monday as part of Musharraf's pledge of military de- escalation, but India responded coolly, saying the move had little military significance.

The European Union condemned the military takeover Saturday and threatened to cut off aid if democracy was not restored, but no Western countries have pressed for toppled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's return.

Ministers from the eight-nation Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group met in London on Monday and suspended Pakistan from the group, "pending restoration of democracy in the country."

South Africa said Pakistan's new military government would not be welcome at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Durban next month.

Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad told a news conference that Pakistan would be banned from the meeting in line with the Commonwealth position, shared by African institutions such as the Organization of African Unity, that military regimes should not be recognized.

He said Emeka Anyaoku, secretary-general of the 54-nation Commonwealth, had written to heads of state on October 13 to tell them that Pakistan would be barred from the meeting.

"There is no place for military regimes in the association," Anyaoku said in the letter.

Two main Kashmiri militant groups fighting Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir said on Monday they saw no threat to their mission after Musharraf's policy speech.

In his broadcast, Musharraf said, "We shall continue our unflinching moral, political and diplomatic support to our Kashmiri brethren in their struggle to achieve their right of self-determination."

Militant group Hizbul Mujahideen Jammu and Kashmir said Musharraf's statement was heartening to the Kashmiris' cause and "a source of strength to both the unarmed Kashmiris and the Kashmiri mujahideen."

Yahha Mujahid, spokesman for the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group said, "The mujahideen will continue their struggle...We do not care who comes and goes. Our mission continues."

India controls 45 percent of Kashmir and regards the entire Himalyan region its own.

Pakistan says Kashmiris must decide in a U.N.-mandated referendum whether to join Pakistan or India.

Correspondent Chris Black, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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