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April 26, 2002
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Musharraf rules out unilateral withdrawal of troops

K J M Varma in Islamabad

Accusing India of 'offensive deployment', Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf ruled out the possibility of unilateral withdrawal of troops from the Indo-Pak border to end the military standoff and put the onus on New Delhi to de-escalate the situation.

In an interview, Musharraf told the Dawn newspaper that India was possibly persisting with the build 'to pressurise us'.

"But we are not coming under pressure. Perhaps, their decision was misjudged. Perhaps, they want to bleed us economically. They are asking a way out but I am not providing that. They have closed the door, let them open it," he said.

He claimed that the Indian deployment along the international borders was offensive in nature and said that the Indian army maintained a large number of troops in the mountains of Kashmir.

India has deployed troops on the border to prevent infiltration by Pak-based militants.

Rejecting any parallels with the Pakistani deployment along the Afghan-Pak border, Musharraf said India had erected a fence along the international borders and 'there is no possibility of anyone crossing, except through the gates'.

About attempts by India to erect similar fences along the working boundary between the Ravi and Chenab corridors and along the Line of Control, Musharraf said, "We don't allow them because it a violation."

Musharraf, who has been using the 'anti-India card' lately to boost his chances of winning a controversial referendum slated for April 30, said that Pakistani troops were alert to prevent any untoward incident along the border.

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