Pakistan

Musharraf disappointed Obama not in Pakistan

Musharraf voiced disappointment that Obama was not stopping in Pakistan,criticised him for not speaking about Kashmir.

Afp November 06, 2010

WASHINGTON: Former president Pervez Musharraf on Friday voiced disappointment that US President Barack Obama was not stopping in his country on the sidelines of his maiden visit to India.

"I would take it as a disappointment, yes, indeed," Musharraf told MSNBC television. Musharraf also criticised Obama for not speaking about Kashmir, the Himalayan region disputed between Pakistan and India, saying: "It doesn't resonate well with the people of Pakistan."

"They take it that the United States or the president of the United States is not that concerned about Pakistan's own sensitivities and interests," he said.

Obama was en route Friday for Mumbai and New Delhi on a trip aimed at convincing India that he wants to push ahead relations between the world's two largest democracies after an early focus on Pakistan and China.

For many US policymakers, it would be unthinkable for Obama to visit Pakistan on the sidelines of the long-promoted trip as Obama is hoping to show India that he sees it as a global power and not simply as a regional player. But Obama has a delicate balancing act as he has also tried to convince Pakistan that he sees the country as more than simply a conduit into Afghanistan for war operations.

Ahead of the India trip, Obama invited Musharraf's civilian successor, President Asif Ali Zardari, for a future visit to Washington and announced that he would travel to Pakistan next year. The United States has tried to dent Pakistan's rampant anti-Americanism by approving a $7.5 billion aid package aimed at building schools, infrastructure and democratic institutions last year.

Last month, the Obama administration also proposed an additional $2 billion for Pakistan in military assistance, despite misgivings in India.

COMMENTS (22)

Ashhar Naeem | 14 years ago | Reply i see these comments as just another plot to gain back the sympathy of uninformed and stupid Pakistan's public. Pakistani people from the deepest core of their hearts are against the US govt. And Mr. Musharraf is trying to benefit from this fact. My question to Mr Musharraf is why should obama visit Pakistan? US govt and its policies do not circle around Pakistan infact Pakistan has nothing to offer to US. India on the other hand can prove to be a powerfull economic ally for the US. Though i agree that musharraf is a much better ruler than the werewolves eating away our country now but I also think that the time is past for Mr. Musharraf. He had 9 Years to lead Pakistan to a better future, was it his fault or his policy makers it doesnt matter, the fact remains that Pakistan is economically, financially, militarily and as a nation much weaker than India. If Pakistan is given an option to make a strong alliance with the EU or say nepal. The obvious choice would be the EU because its stronger more beneficial. So how can we complain that obama is not coming to Pakistan but going to India?

Freeha Shaukat | 14 years ago | Reply People disappointed that Musharraf plans to return to Pakistan

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Masroor | 14 years ago | Reply I like mr. Musharraf but here let me say, when u was in power u did the same, you allow them to use our land for destroying afghanistan, you allow them to use drones, to operate in our land. remember there are few things where one should not compromise at any cost. remember what allama iqbal said "woh ek sijda jise to giran samjhta he hazar sijdon se deta he admi ko nijat" I want u to become our leader & this is only possible when you hold quran & sunnah for your guidance. you have the guts, u r a born leader Allah has given u the strengths. we believe in you we trust you, just leave your secular thoughts

Maulana Bhai | 14 years ago | Reply I'm disappointed Musharraf is not in Pakistan. We must all thank him General (R) Musharraf for leaving us Pakistanis to the wolves.

Malik Tabeer | 14 years ago | Reply Im forced to think that does its only Musharraf who care ,Nobody els no Politician huh

 its show one thing Musharraf is on one side and all other politician or on other
Now we will decide we will go for whom support rather we support who care or those who don't

Praveen Kumar | 14 years ago | Reply I hope Obama ask Pakistan to free Balochistan. I sincerely hope Obama will not make visit to Pakistan because as it is very undemocratic to occupy another country - Balochistan. I hope UN sees all the human right violations in Balochistan and acts against Pakistan government bu putting sanctions.

Waleed Khan | 14 years ago | Reply Sir Musharraf, You are the greatest leader from recent times. -Patriotic Pakistanis

Hafeez Khan | 14 years ago | Reply When Pakistan came into being, Khan Liaqat Ali Khan got invitation to visit from both USA and USSR. He opted to visit USA since then Pakistan is used by Americans for their own benefits and interests. American started interfering in our politics and always tried to install government of their choice.They used us and then ruined us economically and politically. They never let us see our leaders run the country and mould the future of our dear homeland. USA always preaches adoption of democratic values for other nations but in case of Pakistan policy of parallel relations with democratic government and army is adopted. Which hinders the democratic process and stop flourishing a stable democratic setup within our country. The current menace of terrorism and extremism is result of mission executed and after that left unattended by Americans in Afghanistan. Pakistan has become a hub of terrorism and extremism. How Pakistan has become epicenter of extremism? who is responsible of current state of affairs? These are the questions indian students of St. Xavier's College should have asked the President of USA in question-answer show.

Burhan Ahmad Bhutta | 14 years ago | Reply we all kno the history of Musharaf''s regime and infact it was glorious. he has always shown far sightedness in the issues of our country. Now again, he is the only one to talk about Obama while other politician are, i think, afraid of speaking even a single word of question about the Great Father.

Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Dear Readers, You are getting it all Emotionally Just Chill!

Ali AMEEN | 14 years ago | Reply Well, some one should tell Obama to send some BUCK$ in his place. Who needs him !!!

Copper | 14 years ago | Reply Mr. Mushrraf, are you yourself in Pakistan? As far as Kashmir is concerned, it was your era when it got hurt most, so stop shedding crocodile's tears

Muhammad Arfan Alam | 14 years ago | Reply Well, we people as fool as we are, ever you think why we look towards other to solve our matters. The political leaders came into control and we at-least not able to stop them, they are doing as they want, lawful and un- lawful, and off course we are at the top to criticize. We need to learn how to force world to react upon our policies, we learn how to lead world, we need to analyze our internal political system, we need to amend this system, we need to kick mad people how are in Govt. We have to change our inherit system of acting according to policies of other countries.

Anoop | 14 years ago | Reply Why didn't Pakistan ask Obama to visit Pakistan when he was in China? Why all this when he visits another neighbouring country, India? This has to do with de-hyphenating of India and Pakistan and hyphenating of Pakistan with its Afghan neighbour. Rightfully so. Pakistan has more in common with Afghanistan than India. Anyway, India is a lowly,filthy,country of poor people and slums, why would Pakistan want to be associated with it anyway. Good for Pakistan.

Qasim | 14 years ago | Reply we need a holistic coalition with us to deter our own country to top and none seeking for any one as China did in past.

Taimoor | 14 years ago | Reply IT is useless to cry over split milk musharraf sb.

Mohammed Abbasi | 14 years ago | Reply well if Pakistan concentrated on developing its educational and business systems rather than acting on emotional mullahs suggestions we would be the first the asia for any overseas leaders to come to,

Syed Nadir El-Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply President Obama is leading an entourage of 250 business leaders to four Asian countries, while we clamoured for him to make a stopover in Pakistan, at a time when the US economy needs trade deals and export orders, Pakistan, viewed through the security prism and living off a financial lifeline hardly offers the economic prospects that these other countries do. Again, a first world military and nuclear weapons will only get you so far, the economic imperative determines international perception and diplomacy. We seem to refuse to learn that lesson.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply Obama will come to Pakistan in near future.

Amir | 14 years ago | Reply Why should Obama visit Pakistan? What have we done to prove ourself to the world. We export terrorism, we have long bearded fundos who are daily blamming US along with minoriities allegedly being aligned with US, we kill our own people and take pleasure in acknowleding that we have done a great did, they desrved what was coming to them, because thet are kafirs. Our leaders are known to be the most corrupt people on the face of this earth, and take any opportunity to have photo op with any dignitary or movie star coming this way to help us on our misery. In this land of the Pure, our image is of pure cheats and bigots. The only interest US has is to make sure that our militant training camps are closed, our army purge their own fundos, Afghanistan is stabalized, etc. So why should Obama visit Pakistan? Do we have anything to show, any businees interest, economy, etc? Lets be realistic in all this. We are only surviving on aid.

Ilyas | 14 years ago | Reply It seems Musharraf is the only one who is concerned about Paksitan, while othere politicians are just watching their own interests.

Malik Tabeer | 14 years ago | Reply Well here We All must agree and atleast i'm agree That Musharraf got courage to talk and he really know how to talk that show alot and one of the most important thing in a Leader he should know how to talk where to talk and when to talk , he Got that Quality All must admit it

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