• In one shot you’ll become five ranks above him.

Yes. I thought I’ll give him a call immediately and tell him I’m already a general.

• I believe the film was about the LTTE, as well.

Yes. About capturing a person, and a team goes to rescue a prisoner.

• Favourite theme of war movies. So movies apart, war is a dirty business. How long do you see it going?

Now it’s time we stop this. I mean terrorism will have to be dealt with. We can’t allow terrorism to capture a country. Whether terrorism is in India, London, New York . . .

• Lahore.

Lahore . . . terrorism is terrorism. You can’t say there are good terrorists and bad terrorists. Like some of the western countries do.

• They used to say this. But no longer now.

I have my doubts.

• You think they still make that distinction?

I think so. When they come to some of the issues. So it is time all countries come together and eradicate terrorism.

• But what about the war in your North? How long will that go on?

I hope within one-and-a-half years . . . (we will be able to end it).

• Okay.

I’m going to give them a political solution and if they accept it tomorrow, things will be all right.

• When are you going to give them this political solution?

I have already appointed a committee of all parties, because earlier, what I have seen is that most political leaders give their proposals, what they thought best, to the people and the LTTE, but they all rejected it. Even the 13th amendment given by Rajiv Gandhi was not taken up by the LTTE. Now, I’ve thought the best thing is to get all the parties together, especially those from the south, and get them to prepare a proposal and give it to me. I’ll give that to the Tamil people.

... contd.