Pakistan Views

President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday hoped Pakistan will have a stable, democratically elected government that will ensure success in the war against extremism and terrorism and sustain economic growth.
Launching the over Rs 30 billion (US 510 million) expansion and widening project of the Karakoram Highway here the President said the country will be going for the general election, day after tomorrow.
“I am very positive that this will be free, fair, transparent and positive. It has to be that way,” he said.
The President expressed the hope that as a result “Inshallah we will have a stable, democratically elected government … we will ensure successful fight against terrorism and extremism and we will ensure sustaining the economic growth of Pakistan.”
The President dwelt at length on the several mega projects related to communication and infrastructure development dotting across the country that were aimed at creating the National Trade Corridor, creating linkages with neighbouring countries.

President Pervez Musharraf on the final day of his UK visit on Monday urged the West to understand the challenges and problems facing Pakistan and said the country needs to be encouraged and supported in overcoming these obstacles and difficulties.

Addressing senior members of the British media at Hotel Dorchester this morning, the President said his country’s success in meeting these challenges will make the world more peaceful and tranquil.

The President gave an overview of the various challenges confronting Pakistan and how his Government has mapped out strategies to deal with each of these issues.

The President at the onset declared that his government was a strong believer in independent media and will continue to encourage its growth and free expression.

The President spoke about Pakistan’s centrality to the peace in the world saying, “Pakistan’s success in meeting these challenges and defeating terror and extremism will contribute to peace and saving the world.”

President Musharraf attributed the menace of terrorism and extremism in Pakistan to the fallout of Soviet Union’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the failure of USA and the West to support and assist both Pakistan and Afghanistan in dealing with the post 1989 period and leaving the two countries in a lurch.

The President also touched upon the judicial crisis and blamed the former Chief Justice for politicising the legal issue and disturbing national peace and demoralising the people. He defended his November 3 action and termed them as necessary to put democracy back on the rail.

Musharraf also reiterated that the upcoming February 18 parliamentary elections would be fair, free, peaceful and transparent and all the possible loopholes have been plugged to ensure the credibility of the polls.

He said he was ready to work with any party winning two-majority and able to form the Government. The President said the Government affairs would be run by the Prime Minister whose party has a majority in the Parliament.

He said Pakistan needs more excess to the European markets, more investments and trade exchanges to develop and widen its industrial base and provide job opportunities for its people in order to alleviate poverty and develop the country.

The President asked the West to judge the third world countries through the performance of its government in social and economic fields and the steps taken for the welfare of the people and nothing else.

Responding to a question, the President said through US aid, Pakistan will shortly receive the first part of US $ 150 million for utilising on various public welfare projects in FATA.

He ruled out possibility of Taliban leadership living in Afghan refugee’s camp in Balochistan and said Pakistan has asked the UNHCR take these people back to Afghanistan as early as possible.

The President, in reply to another question, said those responsible for July 2005 bombing in London, were the home grown British residents and it was the responsibility of the British Government to find out reasons why these young men resorted to such deadly acts.

“Perhaps, it was the feeling of alienation or the failure to assimilate with British society,” the President wondered. He also noted that Hizbul Tehrir is banned in Pakistan yet this organisation is very much active in UK.

Pakistani authorities on Monday neither denied nor confirmed ‘formal’ negotiations between President Pervez Musharraf and Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak in France last week but said the duo met only ‘by chance’.

An international wire service reported two leaders met on January 23 for an hour after an informal encounter a day earlier at a Paris hotel where both were staying. The report quoting an unnamed Israeli defence ministry official revealed it was Musharraf who actually desired the meeting and talks primarily focused on Iranian nuclear ambitions.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mohammed Sadiq told Business Recorder that Musharraf had a ‘chance’ meeting with Barak in Paris, confirming the first informal meeting. “The President was leaving and the defence minister of Israel entered the hotel lobby and it was a chance meeting,” Sadiq said.

The spokesperson added he did not know anything whether the pair also met a day later, leaving doubtful if there were formal talks. “I am not aware of any second meeting,” Sadiq said, “I can neither confirm nor deny it.”

An attempt to approach Musharraf’s personal spokesperson failed because he was not attending his cell phone. Major General Rashid Qureshi (Retd) is in London with Musharraf on the last leg of his Europe visit. He accompanied the President in Paris also.

Pakistan says it will not recognise Israel until a parallel Palestinian state is established. Sadiq did not comment on what would be its status if there was any such meeting at all given the fact both the world’s second largest Islamic republic and the only Jewish state did not have diplomatic relations.

Islamabad last week condemned Israeli raids and recent blockade of Gaza but said an initiative by Musharraf to secure peace in the Middle East was still ‘on the table’.

The meeting, if it actually held, comes on the heels of several developments in Pakistan under Musharraf in the recent years suggesting a slight softness in the official policy towards Israel. Public opinion strictly against the recognition of ‘evil’ Jewish state remained unchanged though.

Last year, Pakistan attended a United States-backed meeting of several countries to look for an ‘out of box’ solution of the Middle East dispute - a diplomatic overture could have been impossible even as recently as a decade ago.

Also in 2007, Islamabad voted for a Tel Aviv-forwarded non political resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), once again one of unimaginable things of the past.

Born out of the settlement of European Jews in the Middle East back in 1948, Israel is still not acceptable to the most of Islamic world. Only a few Muslim countries including Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Tunis have so far recognised the Zionist state.

Israeli recognition by so-called moderate Muslim states is seen as a must for the US blessings. Given the scepticism about his ability to fight terror by an assertive international community and Musharraf’s growing political opposition in Pakistan, “the meeting should not be a surprise” as an expert put it.

President Pervez Musharraf this month rebuffed US proposals to let the CIA have greater latitude to operate in tribal areas where al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups are active, The New York Times said in Sunday editions.
The paper cited US and Pakistani officials who spoke to the Times in recent weeks about US-Pakistani talks that included the two top US intelligence officials, who travelled secretly to Pakistan.
It said Pakistan and Washington were now discussing other joint efforts. These include increasing the number and scope of missions by armed Predator surveillance aircraft over tribal areas, and identifying ways that Washington can speed information to Pakistan about suspected militants, the Times said.
The unannounced January 9 meetings involved US Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell and CIA Director General Michael Hayden. Musharraf rebuffed proposals to expand US combat presence in Pakistan whether via unilateral covert CIA or joint operations with Pakistani security forces, the paper reported.
The meetings with Musharraf were the first by senior Bush administration officials after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, and included army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani as well as the head of Pakistan’s leading military intelligence agency, Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj, the Times said.
The visit, confirmed by US and Pakistani government spokesmen who declined to provide details, was prompted by US concerns about al Qaeda and the Taliban increasing their efforts to destabilise Pakistan.
Accounts of the one-day talks between the Pakistani leader and US officials were provided by US and Pakistani officials over the past two weeks, the Times said.
The newspaper quoted one senior official as saying the purpose of the mission “was to convince Musharraf that time is ticking away” and that increased attacks on Pakistan would ultimately undermine his hold on power.
According to other officials, recent intelligence indicates that al Qaeda was operating in the tribal areas with impunity akin to that of the days before the September 11 attacks, the Times said.

President Pervez Musharraf said the Western countries had failed to understand Pakistan on the issues of deposed chief justice, general elections and nuclear weapons.

Addressing members of a British think tank, Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) on “vision for Pakistan, regional harmony”, the president gave firm assurances to hold free, fair and transparent elections on February 18.

He said the Western countries had developed some concerns with regard to his recent steps in Pakistan starting from the removal of the chief justice of Pakistan on March 9, imposition of emergency and human rights situation.

He said they all need to understand that he had to take extreme measures to deal with an extraordinary situation. Musharraf criticised the deposed chief justice of Pakistan and other sacked judges for launching judicial activism.

He blamed the deposed chief justice for corruption and claimed that he indulged in nepotism. He said although his fellow judges restored him without any legal provisions, he accepted the decision of the court, as in his opinion the Pakistan comes first.

To a question about statements of US presidential candidates regarding sending US troops into Pakistani territories, he said they (candidates) do not have any idea about the situation, as it was very different to be in the government office particularly when you get intelligence briefings in the morning.

He also warned that Americans do not understand tribal areas so they should not think of launching military operations there, as they would find it difficult to handle the situation afterwards. He said Pakistan was a sovereign country and he knew how to deal with its problems. He said people in Pakistan would not respond positively to US intrusion.

The president said that the only way for militants to gain access to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal would be if al-Qaeda or the Taleban overthrew the army or if extremist religious groups won next month’s elections.

“I strongly am a believer in human rights and individual liberties and freedom of speech,” he said.

“The only thing that we would like is that this freedom should be in bounds and not lead to violence and destruction.

“We cannot allow anyone to destabilise us and lead us towards anarchy in the name of human rights,” he said.

President Pervez Musharraf said Thursday that Pakistan would hold “free, fair and transparent” elections next month. Talking to newsmen in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland, Musharraf said general elections will be held in Pakistan on February 18 despite violent incidents in the country. He said his government has given voice to more people. “We empowered the women of Pakistan,” he said. Musharraf said his government also planned to sustain strong economic growth and “carry on the fight against terrorism and extremism.” He said a militant in South Waziristan tribal region is responsible for all suicide attacks in Pakistan. Talking on relations with India, Musharraf said Pakistan intends to resolve all contentious issues with India by dialogue. Afghan President Hamid Karzai talking to newsmen said extremism and suicide attacks are not a new phenomenon, they have deep roots.

President Pervez Musharraf has pledged that Pakistan’s elections next month will be free and fair, and appealed to western nations to be more patient on human rights.

Speaking to the European Union legislators in Brussels, President Musharraf said that Pakistan suffers from misperceptions and distortions in the West, as he tried to assure lawmakers of his commitment to democracy and human rights. But he also urged patience.

“You have taken centuries in reaching wherever you have come. Allow us time for going for the values that you have established for yourself,” said Pervez Musharraf. ‘We are on the right course but our environment and your environment are very, very different.”

Mr. Musharraf spoke at the start of a European tour partly aimed at trying to improve his image in Europe and at convincing allies here he is committed to the fight against terrorism as Pakistan has been playing key role in war in terror.

European leaders have called for free and fair parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 18. They also asked for a full investigation into the assassination last month of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Mr. Musharraf acknowledged Pakistan faced a turbulent year in 2007 in its fight against extremism. But he rejected criticism that his government failed to adequately protect Ms. Bhutto. He also dismissed chances of extremists acquiring any part of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

European government and business leaders meeting with President Pervez Musharraf in the coming days must press him on the human rights situation in Pakistan, Amnesty International said Sunday.

Musharraf began his eight-day Europe tour by holding talks with members of the Pakistani community in Brussels on Sunday, before beginning his official programme on Monday. He is also set to visit Britain, France and Switzerland.

“As President Musharraf embarks on a tour of Europe … those who meet him have both the responsibility and opportunity to demand that his government bring to an end the human rights violations that have characterised the recent period of Pakistan’s history,” Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan said.

In the statement, Khan added: “Arbitrary arrests and detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture and ill-treatment - coupled with pervasive political violence undermine the prospect of free and fair elections planned in February.”

“Amnesty International has collected a wealth of evidence on human rights violations and the breakdown of rule of law, which are sowing the seeds of a political catastrophe, with devastating consequences for ordinary people.

“The international community must give a clear and unequivocal message to President Musharraf that restoring respect for human rights and the rule of law is key to establishing confidence in the forthcoming elections and arresting the spate of political violence in Pakistan.”

Musharraf is expected to face thorny questions in his talks here over his commitment to fighting extremism after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto and on Pakistan’s slow progress to democratic elections set for February 18.