Pakistan

Lashkar-e-Taiba are freedom fighters: Musharraf

Musharraf says India, Pakistan had come close to resolving Kashmir dispute with his four points.

Express October 10, 2010

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, former president Pervez Musharaf said that anyone fighting in Kashmir for freedom is a mujahid.

Speaking about Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), he said “from our point of view, anyone who is fighting in Indian Kashmir is a mujahid fighting for freedom, fighting for the rights of the people of Kashmir”.

Defending LeT Musharraf said that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. The Indian Army is killing civilians and LeT is fighting against the Indian Army, he said. “Isn’t the Indian Army also a terrorist then?”

Regarding his statements about Pakistan training militant groups to fight in Kashmir, he said he did not mean that they were trained during his tenure, because he had been just a brigadier then. “Lakshar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Muhammad and others came into being in the 1990s. I was nothing in 1991; I was a brigadier”

Musharraf said that these organisations had great public sympathy when they came into being, with people volunteering from Pakistan to go to Kashmir to fight the Indian Army. “The Line of Control is so porous that even I even I could cross it, even at this age,” he said.

“We were very close to finalising the Kashmir issue. Manmohan Singh had agreed to my four-point formula,” Musharraf said. “I should have remained army chief for another five years”. Other than the Kashmir dispute, Musharraf said that the Siachen and Sir Creek issues had nearly been resolved during the talks and the drafts “could have been signed any day”.

“NRO is one of the major blunders of my life,” Musharraf said during his interview regarding the National Reconciliation Ordinance mishap of his time.

Speaking about his political adversaries, he said that he held Nawaz Sharif as very close to the Taliban.

Regarding his handling of the judiciary, Musharraf said that he regretted his confrontation. “The confrontation with the judiciary is what dented my reputation”. However, he expressed his opinion that the army should be given weight in national policies.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (15)

Mohammed Naeem | 13 years ago | Reply Yes true, he is great. If one see now, it is obvious that his tenure was far better than what Pakistan is now. Shame on those who are involved in bringing current govenment into power, whether they are politicians, army people, or the awams, and shame on all those politicians who come to media to defend their blunders and blame everything in previous government. Save Pakistan from the hypocrites of PML (N), PPP, ANP, MQM

ArifQ | 14 years ago | Reply Keep talking General, you are doing this nation a great service by exposing the establishment mindset.

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Mawali | 14 years ago | Reply I am a little bewildered just on the face value of this piece. Then, what is he really saying? Is he defending terrorism? I think not! What he is really saying is lets level the playing field. If India would carry on calling everyone a terrorist, despite the fact that Indian army truly is killing scores of young Kashmiri’s unabated and unrepentant; where do you really draw the line between a terrorist and a defender? Aren’t the Kashmiri’s defending their right to be free of Indian control and subjugation? Where is the accountability? What I admire about this man is the fact that unlike the misfits and conmen that Pakistan recycles as politicians and amongst whom none to this day had the decency to come out and admit clearly and unequivocally their past blunders. Then, the sad fact if that they continue with more of the same unabated! Musharraf, is a straight shooter and perhaps lacks the political acumen nonetheless is truly a man to admit his past mistakes. I admire him for taking responsibility and acknowledging misjudgments. The fact of the matter is regardless of whatever the crooked Pakistani Media i.e., Hamid Mir and company might say about the man. He is the only man about whom I have heard senior representatives of the US administration both present and during the Bush administration saying the man always said. “if you want to do something to help do it for Pakistan”. No one I have ever heard called this man corrupt. That speaks volumes for his character and integrity. Yes he speaks his mind and yes he is truly loyal to Pakistan Army to a fault perhaps?

Dur Muhammed | 14 years ago | Reply Mujahid Fighters----Dictatorship ---Pakistan--- Unfortunatly Former Military Ruler Forget Mujahid of Pakistan, fighting for democracy,rights of the people,against ex-military dictators in Pakistan are Mujahid Fighters--in Pakistan---Please read histry about freedom fighters. Dur Muhammed

Muhammad Arfan Alam | 14 years ago | Reply Musharaf Said, " i held Nawaz Sharif as very close to the Taliban" . Mr Musharaf according to this you are just try acquire the attention of US,UK etc. about ineligibility of Mr Nawaz Shref on the ground of terrorism, why you not concentrating on peoples of Pakistan. I agree with "national policies" it will have four pillars Public stakeholders 1- People of country 2- Parliment Independent stakeholders(may for look after purpose) 3- Army 4- Judiciary

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply Amazing! A group that has confessed attacking the police, military and civilians in Pakistan, are freedom fighters. Just goes to show the lengths our leaders will go to maintain their bravado.

ehsanali | 14 years ago | Reply Musharraf was responding a question about AQ khan where khan was accusing pak army about selling nuclear secrets

nooralam | 14 years ago | Reply musharaf at govt more support at time only pml-n agunist at the time pml-q

M.Saleem Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Mr. Musharraf is Quite Right about Whoever are Fighting for their Rights, Lives , Freedom and their Dignity are not Terrorists but they are MUJAHIDs.. Infact They are Terrorista who are not Caring of those Helpless Thousand people of their nation who are sleeping on the FootPaths with any Food and with a no Guarranted lives (if there is any traffic may Demolish them any time), but caring and conerned about the Kashmiri Innocent PPL that they are Militants and Atankwadis..??? Because The Media is Totally in Their Hands .. The Governament is showing the Other Face of Mirror to the World about Kashmir. They are Not Talking about What is Meant By Humanity and Human Rights... Is this Humanity to Kill Innocent Childeren and Burry them in a Combine Grave...???? Where is the Human Rights...???? so The Statement of Mr Musharraf is 95 % Favourable and Correct. God may help Those who are Right, Sincere and Deserving.. M.S.Khan. KSA

gangly khan | 14 years ago | Reply Mush is missing power. He like a mad person vomiting nonsense. WE are not interested l.e.t. This organisation has not given anything good except inciting young boys to launch suicidal attacks on innocent people. However they are running good business on the bases of charity and Zakat. The people are in search of sincere leaders who could unite the people and free them from exploitative forces. Mush is a fired cartridge and his dreams to return to power will not come true..

M.Saleem Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Dear, No doubt That Gen. Musharraf was and is our Hero.. He was the Hero of Kargil. He did alot for the Sake of Pakistan and her Public. to view his tenure and the present; lets be logical and to compare it well, atleast there was no such Corruption in His Governament, There was no such a heavy Loadshedding, there was no such Tragidies in Pakistan and let me say that atleast there was plenty of Sugar, Flour and other Basic Food available at every corner of Pakistan in His Period. We Had a good Investment with around the Globe, we were moving with a Raised Head in Foreign Countries. look at our Country Condition that even A Saudi National Can't Visit Pakistan in now a days.. Mr. Musharraf was too Great, But He Should not Say any such Irrespectable Word against OUR National Her (Dr. Qadeer Khan). He Is The Man who let us Dare the wicked Neighbours, We must be Proud of Him.The Statement Of Mr . Musharraf in a Nationa Urdu NewsPaper (Jang) That "Dr. Qadeer is a Bad Caractors Man" Its Really such a Rubbish Statement... We Pray for the Best of Our Great Pakistan. M.Saleem Khan. KSA

Ghausia | 14 years ago | Reply Oh God he's serious isn't he?

Sultan Ahmed. | 14 years ago | Reply Dear, please,should talk about poor people, and the prices skyrocketing, people,effected by worst ever flood, and corruption going on under the leadership of PPP.and PLM(M). what you talking about, please come back and talk about insurgency which is on its climax now a days.

Hamza Malik | 14 years ago | Reply http://www.thetrueperspective.com/2010/10/what-are-you-doing-man.html Can you imagine him being this foolish, ever?

Odin | 14 years ago | Reply This man really can't keep his mouth shut.

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