ironman
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2009
- Messages
- 1,438
- Reaction score
- 0
- Country
- Location
New Delhi (PTI): As long as the ISI and armed forces of Pakistan are there, nothing can go wrong in that country, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said.
Asserting that Pakistan's integrity can never break up as long as the armed forces are there, Musharraf said in an interview to Karan Thapar's Devil's Advocate programme, "the biggest disservice to Pakistan and the action against the Taliban, terrorists and Al-Qaeda is when you undermine the ISI and the Pakistani Army".
Asked whether the west and India's concern about Taliban was exaggerated he said, "It is very exaggerated. It appears as if they can take over Pakistan. How can they take over Pakistan? Either through force, which means they are going to defeat the Pakistani army or politically which means they are to win the next elections...both of these are not possible.
The former Pakistan President said he did not agree with US President Barack Obama's ****** strategy. "....because we are being bracketed with Afghanistan. Afghanistan hardly has any governance, it is out of our control. And, also may I add there is an Indian connection there too in terrorism and extremism.
"...we have to look at events in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
Questioned as to whether ****** should be broadened to include Kashmir, maybe India as a whole. He said, "Yes, yes absolutely".
Musharraf said "we are talking about acting holistically against terrorism and extremism. Now, if we were to resolve only Pakistan, Afghanistan and the borders and frontiers then it makes no sense because what you are talking about...these LeT and JeM...are all because of Kashmir".
He did not rule out the presence of rogue elements in the ISI or in the Pakistan Army who are sympathisers, like Mumbai terror accused Hafiz Sayeed.
When asked if there were rogue elements, who were sympathisers and not in agreement with government policy, Musharraf said, "If these elements are there and they are in service in the ISI or the army, certainly they will be sorted out because that goes against the government policy".
"...I am sure it is against the army or the ISI policy. There has to be unity on that policy, and a standard policy is being followed. If there is any element which is violating that policy, it has to be punished and dealt with," he said in the interview.
Musharraf said, "But that doesn't mean there is official, government patronage or ISI or army patronage".
Asserting that Pakistan's integrity can never break up as long as the armed forces are there, Musharraf said in an interview to Karan Thapar's Devil's Advocate programme, "the biggest disservice to Pakistan and the action against the Taliban, terrorists and Al-Qaeda is when you undermine the ISI and the Pakistani Army".
Asked whether the west and India's concern about Taliban was exaggerated he said, "It is very exaggerated. It appears as if they can take over Pakistan. How can they take over Pakistan? Either through force, which means they are going to defeat the Pakistani army or politically which means they are to win the next elections...both of these are not possible.
The former Pakistan President said he did not agree with US President Barack Obama's ****** strategy. "....because we are being bracketed with Afghanistan. Afghanistan hardly has any governance, it is out of our control. And, also may I add there is an Indian connection there too in terrorism and extremism.
"...we have to look at events in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
Questioned as to whether ****** should be broadened to include Kashmir, maybe India as a whole. He said, "Yes, yes absolutely".
Musharraf said "we are talking about acting holistically against terrorism and extremism. Now, if we were to resolve only Pakistan, Afghanistan and the borders and frontiers then it makes no sense because what you are talking about...these LeT and JeM...are all because of Kashmir".
He did not rule out the presence of rogue elements in the ISI or in the Pakistan Army who are sympathisers, like Mumbai terror accused Hafiz Sayeed.
When asked if there were rogue elements, who were sympathisers and not in agreement with government policy, Musharraf said, "If these elements are there and they are in service in the ISI or the army, certainly they will be sorted out because that goes against the government policy".
"...I am sure it is against the army or the ISI policy. There has to be unity on that policy, and a standard policy is being followed. If there is any element which is violating that policy, it has to be punished and dealt with," he said in the interview.
Musharraf said, "But that doesn't mean there is official, government patronage or ISI or army patronage".
