From Jal Khambata

In an internet interview to www.foreigntv.com in London, she argued that open borders would help remove the ongoing explosive Kashmir issue to allow Kashmiri people from both sides to interact. She mentioned the "open borders" arrangement between Israel and Jordan as an example of how such a policy would work.

About the situation in Kargil, she said that every time the snow melts in the mountains there is some fighting there. This time the Mujahideen got there first. In the past the Kashmir dispute has been treated as a land problem, she said.

"I suggest that it be dealt with as a people's problem," on the lines of an "open border" like first tried in Israel and Jordan. The people of Kashmir should meet and interact for improvement in relations between the two countries.

She criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying his "dual policy of bus diplomacy and armed struggle is like having your cake and eat it too. And during the conflict he tried to pass the blame on to the military, causing division in the country".

She also criticised Sharif's recent meeting with President Bill Clinton. "If he wanted to settle it, then why not in Islamabad instead of going all the way to Washington? Any self-respecting nation would feel that if you have to withdraw, do it voluntarily rather than have someone else dictate it."

The former prime minister complained that the government "treats me as a non-person, and is trying to eliminate me from politics. They have not bothered taking me into their confidence at a time when the Indian government is reaching out to the opposition parties to unite their country over the Kashmir crisis".

She insists her support within Pakistan remains firm, and that the economic situation is growing worse, and along with that, public discontent. "If free elections were held in Pakistan today my party would win," she asserted.

Bhutto said that if she returned to Pakistan at this time she would be arrested. She said although she is in London, she maintains close contact through e-mail, the internet, the fax and the telephone. "It's a team effort," she said. "I have more time here than when I was in Pakistan, going from courtroom to courtroom to defend myself."

She said her three children would rather be back in Karachi, and see their father. She hoped that she could return soon to the country, and said "I know what my country needs". ''Disarming immediately is big bite,'' Bhutto said in reply to a question whether Pakistan should take the first step towards nuclear non-proliferation. She said: "There are steps that Pakistan can take unilaterally towards non-proliferation."

She said the West should understand that the Kashmir issue is directly related to the arms race in South Asia. We have been at war with India three times, twice over Kashmir and once on Bangladesh and therefore Pakistan feels insecure, she added. END.