The former military dictator was addressing the Youth Parliament in Karachi on Thursday.
He alleged that the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 changed the political climate worldwide and three blunders were created by the United States who also left the area.
“The US left without rehabilitating the 25,000 Afghan mujahideen who came here, which led to the formation of al Qaeda,” he claimed.
Claiming that 1990 onward, warlords emerged, freedom fights started and the Taliban were created in 1996, the former president alleged it was because of the mujahideen left behind.
“The second blunder was the West’s refusal to recognise Taliban.”
“We were the only ones who recognised the Taliban, Saudi Arabia and UAE later backed out,” he said, referring to Pakistan’s recognition of the Afghan Taliban regime, in power from 1996 until 2001 when the US-led invasion resulted in its overthrow.
“The world looked at us negatively because of this,” the military ruler said, explaining that in 2000 then US president Bill Clinton came to Pakistan to reprimand him for his recognition of the Taliban.
“I told him my thinking is different. I think our strategy ought to be we all recognize Taliban and open our missions in Afghanistan and then try to moderate them from within,” Musharraf recalled.
He added in hindsight he was correct in his stance, claiming if there were missions from around the world in Afghanistan, the Afghan government would have taken steps.
“But because none of this happened, the events led to 9/11.”
Moving on to the third blunder and post-9/11, the former president said the invasion of US-led Nato forces in Afghanistan pushed militants to mountainous areas neighbouring Afghanistan.
"A vacuum was created in Afghanistan which had to be overcome by changing military victory into a political victory," he said, explaining an ethnically balanced government representing Pakhtuns was needed.
"But because this did not happen, the Taliban started reviving in 2003."
Discussing the effects of the revival of Taliban, Musharraf claimed four million refugees moved to Pakistan and religious militancy in Fata, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and other cities started.
“The world’s focus became South Asia as a result,” he added.
“During this tumultuous period, frankly, not one civilian government performed socio-economically for Pakistan. Not one. Other than the military government,” the military ruler asserted.
Musharraf added that policies can be adjusted according to environment but national interests are constant.
Taking a jab at the current government, the former president said, “The economy is nose-diving and terrorism is prevalent in all provinces.”
“We must deal with terrorism in all its connotations in Pakistan,” he said, citing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa there is Taliban and al Qaeda, separatism and sectarianism in Balochistan, ethnic and sectarianism in Sindh and sectarianism in Punjab.
Shifting his focus to India, Musharraf said, “Tension between Pakistan and India has always existed.”
“Kashmir is a bone of contention between Pakistan and India.”
COMMENTS (14)
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The greatest blunder of America was recognizing General Musharraf and allowing Pakistan to lead the war in Afghanistan.
It took the region almost a decade to recover from the blunders made by Musharaf, who was an coward, arrogant yet stupid head of state, all talk pomp and show, but no meaningful action. The current COAS is working with government and Afghans to sincerely root to out TTP from the region, whereas Musharaf's manoeuvres were only motivated to secure his own seat in power for as long as possible. For that he created confusion and distraction for everyone. Peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India is very important for this region's prosperity
I dont think Mush is right. TTP was created by India, Isnt it.
Sir, how about your blunder of getting into partnership with US against taliban, whose government you proudly recognized and supported?
With leaders like him whom a large section of the Pakistan think, he is the best leader; then the world should not try to figure out why there are so many conspiracy theorists in Pakistan. He is re-writing history and blaming everyone else along the way and telling us that he was right always. And many people believe him. God Have Mercy!
Sounds great except that the soviets left in 1988 and most of the ttp weren't even born yet or were babies. One grows weary of Pakistans consistent refusal to accept responsibility for its actions
@SHN: What sense of security.Engineered election for the formation of MMA for Baluchistan and NWFP?.And afterward terrorism went into higher gears.Huge industrialization of bomb factories in FATA is the only development that we see during his nine years rule.Not to forget these bomb were used against innocent people and state assets.
The best leader Pakistan ever had.
I do not wish to be unduly critical of what General Musharraf did whilst in power, but feel he must accept responsibility for the results of his actions. He fully cooperated with the US, and although I can accept that he did not intentionally create the Taliban, he did materially assist in creating the debacle which has existed in Afghanistan since the US invasion. However, to be kind to the General he probably did not foresee what the results of his actions would be. However, unfortunately, for Pakistan and Afghanistan the results have not been good, and one does not need to be a fortune teller to realize that invading a foreign country usually produces bad results.
Musharraf was the best leader Pakistan had in recent history, but I do not agree with him about giving the military a political role (which is not mentioned in this article). The military is the only government institution that performs well, but if it is given a political role then we will lose this last guarantor of Pakistani security.
The only man who was able to give the people of Pakistan a sense of security.
spot on.
He is best leader and Pakistan can get rid of militancy under his rule.
It is so easy to pon the blame on others for all problems -US and Afghanistan. You, sir, were be all and end all in the country cutting deals with US/coalition and minting dollars as pay back and all the TTP/militarisation formenting right under our noses was someone else's fault!