Pakistan

Abbottabad incursion an act of war: Musharraf

Former president terms Obama’s threat to strike again ‘arrogant’.

May 26, 2011

NEW DELHI:

The US raid which killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was technically “an act of war”, said former president Pervez Musharraf, Hindustan Times reported.

Musharraf described US President Barack Obama’s statement that he would order another raid if necessary as “arrogant”. Bin Laden was gunned down on May 2 by US Special Forces who attacked his hideout in Abbottabad. The US said it had carried out a unilateral assault.

Musharraf told CNN: “No country has a right to intrude into any other country.”

He added: “Actually, technically, legally, you see it, it’s an act of war. So I think it is an irresponsible statement, and I think such arrogance should not be shown, publicly, to the world.”

He, however, added it would not necessarily signal a war.

“How to deal with it, is the question. I leave it to the government there to [decide] how they want to deal with it,” said the ex-president.

Musharraf admitted that he was “embarrassed” after one of the most wanted men was found hiding in Pakistan and said that the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence could not be blamed for the “slip-up” that saw Osama residing in Abbottabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (59)

S. H. Zaidi | 13 years ago | Reply What would have been your reaction were you in power when the Americans raided Abbottabad to get Osama, Mr. Musharraf? Well, you may say what you like now, but surely you would have applauded and maybe even claimed that the raid was conducted with the help of the Pak army or by the Pak army itself! Just recollect; there was an American missile attack on a madressah somewhere in the Frontier Province or FATA during your tenure that killed more than 80 children and you owned up to the attack and said it was done by Pak army! You were quite a loyal servant of the US, weren't you?

Mrs. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @chidanand: This is a tactical move and the day is not so far when he will be among us. See Mahatama Gandhi spent most of his life in South Africa before coming to India. Also see the example of Imam Khomeni who spent most of his life in France before coming to Iran to lead the nation. We are waiting for our great leader Musharaf. Regards Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg South Africa.

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Dr.A.K.Tewari | 13 years ago | Reply Now Pakistan has to roll on the slope created by Musarraf in consultation with the active world leaders of that time ,He has beeo blessed by Bush , Blair and Bajpai .The transfornation of Pakistan is a must for world peace .

chidanand | 13 years ago | Reply @Abid Mohuddin MD: if he was such a brave general and perhaps i, why is he afraid of returning to Pakistan?

Furqan-Ulhaq | 13 years ago | Reply It's time to do a self analyses, including of our neighbors'. For a start: Make friend with India, only because you can't be living next door to an arch enemy forever. You can not make historical past disappear either: The pain-full birth, the mistakes in anger & frustration, the sharing of water, land & wealth, if any. We got to do something about it now. Start trade with them in everything to save money. Gujranwala, Faisalabad & Karachi or the poor farmers can't produce enough for the booming population or we would not have been importing everything at a huge cost to foreign exchange. Trade business in exchange if their conspiracies inside & overseas against us. Enough is enough. You did what you could_ you were a child addicted to bad habits way at early age, it will only get worst, thats all. Sadly_ Our kite is not going up__ it got a broken wing and there is no more line in the reel. It will come down soon for the chasing kids to shred it apart.

Dr.A.K.Tewari | 13 years ago | Reply Musarraf is a patriotic Pakistani , who paved the way for the transformation of Pakistan in to a secular.democretic and modern country through RED STAR operation .He is still a great leader of Pakistan .

Dr.A.K.Tewari | 13 years ago | Reply Musarraf is the only patriotic Pakistani leader i have ever came across who saved the nation from the grip of Islamic terrorists through the RED STAR operation and paved the way through which a modern democratic , secular Pakistan will emerge .

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply SARKAR---where were you when they started drone attacks??? where were you when we gave our shamsi Airbase----??? ohhh if am not wrong----u were president and more importantly u were heading the army---so dont act stupid and stop making us fool---we already had enough from you and from this gang who are presently running this state

Furqan-Ulhaq | 13 years ago | Reply Lots of good sensible replies & comments here from all kind of readers. Some facts: 1)Every politician has to say lines_ true or lies just to get elected next time or at least don't loose the job on-hand.2)Most all political leaders suddenly realize the best path for their nation soon after they loose the chair.3) Remember: When you borrow or beg from someone he almost owns your wife what about the complaining of coming into your house without knocking.4) India will not sleep until Pakistan is in rags & pieces_ their leaders tell their voters.. 5)No wonder they are pumping millions annually in USA, Europe & Middle East for heavy duty negative image casting of Pakistan.6) Check their think tank's activities. 7) Pakistan, while in the claws of high corruption, mis-management, mistrust, lawlessness, illiteracy, elitism, poverty & political ignorance is only making the enemy's job easier. Solution: 1)Make friend with India ASAP. Costs: trade routes or culture. 2) Bring the army under civilian rule, of-course after the annihilation of corruption or the National leaders will sell you out to anyone who pay the price.3) Start from anywhere, lets say from corruption-catching police.4) For national budget deficit__ Tax All not only the City dwellers who are now the only source of Govt Income(65%). 5) Have a fool-proof/corruption-proof institution of accountability for at least political leaders(who cant be brought into courts).6) Honestly Earn, Save & Distribute the money & you have a Happy Productive & Loyal Population.

Faheem | 13 years ago | Reply You are equally responsible for today's situation in Pakistan. So please stop your political statements.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply As some of his supporters say, and I agree that Mush may be a great politician but was he a great military leader? Here is direct quote from an old article on Pakistan army in Guardian: "The Hamoodur Rahman Commission held in Pakistan following that war found large swathes of the high command to be deeply negligent – thecommander of Pakistani forces in East Pakistan, the report revealed, was involved in sexual misconduct even as his troops were killing, and being killed, on the battlefield. In 1999, an ambitious Pakistani general by the name of Pervez Musharraf devised the tactically brilliant, but strategically near-suicidal, plan to invade Kargil, an Indian mountain post in Kashmir. That gamble nearly led to nuclear war, and almost certainly led to a military coup later that year. How does one explain these failures? There can be no one explanation. But if there is an overriding message from these debacles, it is that the army is ill-equipped to defend the state because it has captured much of the bedrock of the state to which it is totally unaccountable"

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Rizwan: "Kargil is NOT in india" Is Muzaffarabad in Pakistan ?

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Abid Mohuddin MD: " ... Indeed musharraf did that for a purpose and India was loosing till Mr.Nawaz went to USA and we lost .... " No matter what spin you put on it - the last two words in your sentence will be how the Kargil conflict will be remembered - i.e an ignominious defeat for Pakistan. You stood without a single friend in the entire world and even your all weather friend China did not lift a finger to help. Musharraf and other Mohajir power seekers subconsciously retain a generational desire to defeat and destroy "Hindu" India - because they had to do hijrat from India. If he comes to power again, he will resurrect Pakistan's anti-India stance in a big way and thereby dig you all deeper into the mess you currently are in. Start a Tehreek-e-Hoodbhoy, instead, to elect Dr. Parvez Hoodbhoy as PM of Pakistan. (If you guys do not want him, we'd be more than happy to receive him.)

Ali Wazir | 13 years ago | Reply Some one need to throw a shoe at that guy to shut him up.

Thinking | 13 years ago | Reply @ Abid - You should read Wikipedia and other independent news sources. Bill Clinton gave Nawaz Sharif political cover under which he could pull troops back from Kargil. Mushurraf led a dangerous adventure which cost lives on both sides. Do you see a pattern that Pakistan always starts wars and always loses them? Do you also see a pattern that Pakistan's military and government always blame external forces so Pakistan's people don't kick them out of power and question why they start wars with a much larger and richer neighbor? Stop. India doesn't want anything from Pakistan but friendship and trade. Please want the same from India.

mussarat | 13 years ago | Reply @Abid Mohuddin MD: He was most incompetent army chief of his time, even worst than General Yahya Khan. mussarat

mussarat | 13 years ago | Reply @ashfaqueshah: Not only ignorant but also "INNOCENT". I am sure if Musharraf were president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan when OBL was killed in Abbotabad, he would have definitely announced JIHAD both in Kashmir and Palestine out frustration and desperation. Well done my dear musharraf. The master of "double-game". History will always remember you as "Double-Gamer" . Mussarat

Abid Mohuddin MD | 13 years ago | Reply I actually enjoy when I see Indians crying over Kargil . Indeed musharraf did that for a purpose and India was loosing till Mr.Nawaz went to USA and we lost I was told by an indian armed force officer taht the only general india was afraid of was no body else but Musharraf and I see this was true when I see indians crying over Kargil Geo Musharraf!!

Thinking | 13 years ago | Reply @ Waqas and others who continue to deny what awful things happened from 1970 - 1971 in Bangladesh: the whole "Muslim brother" thing doesn't play out. Pakistan killed hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Bangladesh. India saved them. When will Pakistanis learn that you can't throw stones when you live in a glass house? India is no ideal state but calling Pakistan an "ideal state" is laughable. Pakistan and its once-proud people are the butt of jokes all over the world. No one believes Pakistan anymore. Pakistan can't continue to pull wool over everyone's eyes. People have figured out that Pakistan is full of delusion and conspiracy theories. Elect good leaders. Stop blaming external forces. Stop supporting hatred and violence against minorities. Grow up. Then the world will want to be your friend.

Vicram Singh | 13 years ago | Reply @Waqas: "Siachen and Kargil are both disputed territories that is the reason both India and Pakistan call it LOC and not international border. I thought of Indians generally as an educated and informed lot, but the more I interact with you guys you people are more ignorant and dumb…." Over the next few months, you will face heightened rebellion in Gilgit Baltistan.

Rizwan | 13 years ago | Reply @chidanand: Kargil is NOT in india, its in Kashmir which is a disputed territory. Get this fact swallowed, then we'll talk further.

Arslan | 13 years ago | Reply @Aamer: Tell me, how many drone attacks under Musharraf ? Thanks.

FactCheck | 13 years ago | Reply @Junaid Chughtai: He should sided with whom? Taliban? That would have brought the war to Pakistan. He did not have choice, whatsoever!

mahmood | 13 years ago | Reply It's easy to talk tough when your making a press conference --- apparently he's not brave enough to return to his own country to face some tough questions about his potential involvement in the assassination of BB -- anecdotal evidence that he either doesn't trust the justice system in Pakistan or that he maybe just another blow hard politician.

Nirode Mohanty | 13 years ago | Reply Musharraf should be tried as a war criminal for murdering Baluchistan leader Buguti and as responsible for the disappearance of thousands of Balucusitanis.Truth will prevail.

Waqas | 13 years ago | Reply @ Chidanand, Vasan & other Indians Stop lying for once it will do you a lot good!! Siachen and Kargil are both disputed territories that is the reason both India and Pakistan call it LOC and not international border. I thought of Indians generally as an educated and informed lot, but the more I interact with you guys you people are more ignorant and dumb.... If you grab Siachen its 'your right' and when we do the same on Kargil you start crapping and create hoo haa. As they say what you sow so shall you reap, you have sown hatred, dissension, supported Bengali rebels to wage war on Pakistan and kill innocents. You are all liars and continue to fester in the lies you and your government perpetuates.

AD | 13 years ago | Reply Oh..My ..look who is talking..and what was Kargil ? A tribute?

Unbiased | 13 years ago | Reply Mush is the leader that was ideal at the time he took over. Pakistan should be obliged to him for his leadership at that time, and thank god that Nawaz Shareef was not in control of the country. And Pakistan should also thank the almighty that the present leadership was also not on the horizon. Had that been the case we would long have been branded a rogue state, which would have pleased our neighbours immensly and what they are about to achieve through this present setup. Musharraf is the only leader in our favour and I hope this time round he comes in as an elected representative. May Pakistan be saved from the sham democracy as it exists today.

Salim | 13 years ago | Reply Indeed a great leader. Musharraf has the courage to speak truth - which only a brave person can do.

Chilli | 13 years ago | Reply Musharaf .. please stay away from Pakistan.. you sold us to US for your chair alone.

Munir | 13 years ago | Reply Solute to Musharraf - we miss you. You are much much better than present bunch of hyprocrites.

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Look who's talking!!!

Malik | 13 years ago | Reply I like your politics specially foriegn politics. Your time was really enlightened. You slipped when acted against SC and media. You are a brave person and should be apologise to nation for your mistakes. Your blunder mistake was to allow PPP and PML (N) leadership to particiapte in election under NRO umbrella. This is your responsibillity to assuage the peoples of Pakistan at this time of disappointment.

jagjit sidhoo | 13 years ago | Reply General u ruled Pakistan for 9yrs u got a great opportunity to do something for your country there r no retakes in real life

Malik | 13 years ago | Reply @ S Khan. You are absolutely right.

TightDhoti | 13 years ago | Reply So says the person who handed over Pak soverignty to America

parvez | 13 years ago | Reply A statement like this smacks of desperation, a trait that sits badly on any politician.

S Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Mushi, just till the nation what you did in 11 long years. This is the aftermath of your blunders.

syed ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply @ Dr. Saleem Siddiqi very well said Dr. Siddiqi, no doubt i can say that v had Mr. Jinnah, Mr. Bhutto and have Musharraf who has all those qualities.

Aamer | 13 years ago | Reply When this man was the President he didn't dare open his mouth against the West. Drone attacks were carried out and this commando would say we did it ouserlves. Now when he wants to come into politics, all he's doing is making a political statement

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 13 years ago | Reply @Adeel: I fully agree with you. Atleast we have a Statesman (Musharaf)who had not only faced voilant Journalist in India at the time of Kashmir talk but can also speak frankly and boldly to US TV media, openly accusing Obama. This talent you will find in a very few leaders as they are all hypocrates. Pakistan needs a brave leader like Musharaf to deal with internal and external threats which the country is facing / under-going these days.

syed ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply I wonder that why we Muslim blame western society, west, Jewish or Christian for those wrong doings of them to us (Muslims) why? Why we Muslims do not make our existence strong enough in this world so nobody may have courage to do all those wrongs to us. we always say that look, usa, west or Israel is doing this or that bad to us why can not we do the same to them can v no v can not because we are strong enough to do the same to them. V Muslims have to remember that unless v r strong enough to all those, v will have to live with all these lame excuses, crying like stupid’s who are not ready to take an action to correct them selves to follow the path of ALLAH. Allah has said in the last book Qura’an and earlier books as well to make our selves strong enough and ready for any kind / type of challenges. Allah also says that when u r strong enough then also showcases it to the enemy so he / they will be able to understand ur existence in better manners. So brothers and sisters’ v have STOP blaming others and have to make our selves strong as per the instructions of ALLAH. And v also have to remember that ALLAH / GOD/ BHAGWAN what ever some body calls him, is not only for Muslims his messages through prophets some know and some unknown has reached to this world for each and every one regardless of what he / she believes. Allah has never asked any body to kill some one who does not believe in him or believe but in a different way BUT he has asked every one to standup against the INJUSTICE whenever and wherever it takes place and that is called JIHAD FOR LORD. So get up against INJUSTICE not against any believe. I have not found any example from the Prophets time in which they JIHAD against any non-believer or different believers but the cause always have been the INJUSTICE with people. U CAN REPLY ON syyed33@yahoo.com

Malik | 13 years ago | Reply Excellent, we need such a leadership.... Musharraf is real patriotic person. You need courage to talk against USA on internationally platform. Our current politicians are are ignorant and cannot talk infront of their masters. All those who are against musharraf are poisoned by their ignorant politicians. You do not have any brain to think wht is right n what is wrong....

Akhtarrao | 13 years ago | Reply @vasan, please do let us know, how Kragil belongs to India? You also claim, Kashmir belong to India, what a non sense claim

Akhtarrao | 13 years ago | Reply @ Mr.chidanand Pakistan is not a rogue states, its neighbors are sending their illegal child to create mess in Pakistan. If they stopped their dirty action, Pakistan is an ideal state.

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply Musharaff calling Obama as arrogant?? Among all the political leaders of Indian subcontinent, past and present, the most arrogant was and is Musharaff. Pot calling kettle black? Adeel, : For your information, Siachen area was unmarked while Kargil belongs to India. Pl read up and check the maps

Ruhina Hashmi | 13 years ago | Reply Hmmm - I wonder, who got us in this mess with the US of A? What use are empty information snippets? If its an act of war, where is our national pride and sense of honour? Questions upon questions.. I'm afraid there wont be an answer. Ever.

Adeel | 13 years ago | Reply @Chandanad...hey dude, 1984, Sichan glacier...ring some bells?

Adeel | 13 years ago | Reply Well we never heard of stuff like Blackwater and Xe blah blah during Musharraf's time...in fact drones then were UAV in media lingo...between 2004-07 on 9 drone attacks carried out with precision...then after him....floodgates opened...We are proud of the way you lead this country in the most difficult of times...we experience the difference between your and current leadership everyday!

chidanand | 13 years ago | Reply Will Mr.Pervez Musharraf be kind enough to elaborate on his actions in Kargil, India ? It sure is smart thing to be talking the language that he does but will he be kind enough to define his actions, when he sent his troops in to India territory? What America has been doing is paying Pakistan billions of dollars and what they have done is killed the most wanted and dreaded terrorist. And what Musharraf did in Kargil is, he sent those terrorists along with his troops in India. In fact Pakistan should be glad that America is doing for them what actually Pakistan ought to be doing. But the fact is that Pakistan is a rogue state or terrorist state which now is proved beyond any scope of doubt by the evidence given by David Headley's testimony in a US court. Pakistan has different teeth for showing and for chewing. Its a pity that US Govt. does not realize this so simple and obvious fact.It would not have taken 10 years for US to locate Laden if they had realized this fact earlier.Thank God the US had sense enough this time round not to talk to Pakistanis of the plan other wise they would never have been able to kill Bin Laden.

RizwanTKhan | 13 years ago | Reply General you forgot that you initiated this. You allowed US for drones attack and CIA agents to walk freely in our country and terrorize the country and kill innocent people. So don't act so saint now.

Junaid Chughtai | 13 years ago | Reply Hey Mush don't be such a cynic.. get some En-lighted Moderation.. this is just collateral damage in the war where Pakistan under your rule sided with the Invading US-lead West. Dont tell us your wisdom didnt see this coming!

KHALID KAMAL | 13 years ago | Reply Agreed........... but you laid the foundation

ashfaqueshah | 13 years ago | Reply musharaf is very bad leader of past

Benazir | 13 years ago | Reply Mussharraf is Ignorant

Kamran | 13 years ago | Reply Thank you Musharraf Sahib. Among all the polticians, you are the only one fighting for Pakistan, while others are just trying to get political advantage.

Pakistani Canadian | 13 years ago | Reply Actually, the real act of war is the one that the Pakistan Armed Forces has been waging against Pakistan ever since it decided it should play politics.

Malik Tabeer | 13 years ago | Reply Indeed a brave Man Can anybody quot here if any of our leader dare to talk like that none

Moise | 13 years ago | Reply Sir it's your mess. Give us time we will clear it up for you and your Anglo US friends.

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