Pakistan may have faced India, US after 9/11: Musharraf
September 10th, 2011 - 10:36 pm ICT by IANS
Islamabad, Sep 10 (IANS) Pakistan would have had to face the combined military might of the US and India if it had not allowed American troops on its territory to fight the Taliban after the 9/11 terror attacks, former president Pervez Musharraf has said.
“I do not regret at all. I think it was a very correct decision, and if I am told the same situation, I will take the same decision,” The Nation daily quoted Musharraf as telling a Chinese state-run TV channel.
“Certainly the US was going to attack Afghanistan. That was clear. Where can they attack from… through India… And India was all set and ready to extend all kinds of facilities,” the former president said in an interview from Dubai.
“If they come from India and we are not with them and what happens. Pakistan then has to oppose the might of US and India together. Because they had to go through Pakistan if they have to reach Afghanistan and our sovereignty will be violated whether on land or air, from wherever.”
“So quite clearly that was not in the interest of Pakistan at all and Pakistan could not face the threat of the force that would have violated our sovereignty or had been opposed to us,” he said.
In another interview with the BBC, Musharraf said he was determined to return to his country by March 2012, even if he is arrested.
“If there is such politicisation that the courts absolutely go berserk and they arrest me or something, which I don’t think is a possibility, well let them arrest me. I’ll go to jail. Let’s see what happens then. I’ll go back,” he said.
The former president is wanted by an anti-terrorism court over accusations that he failed to protect former prime minister Benazir Bhutto from being killed in December 2007.
“By any stretch of imagination, by any analysis of legal and constitutional issues, I am not involved (in the assassination). So, I know this case is a hoax and we’ll be able to fight it,” Musharraf said.
Musharraf grabbed power in a bloodless coup in October 1999 and led an administrative military government till August 2007. He ruled as chief executive 1999-2001 and as president 2001-08.
- Musharraf to return to Pakistan in January - Dec 19, 2011
- Ties with Israel can bring India-Pakistan closer: Musharraf - Jan 07, 2012
- Musharraf to return home Jan 25 or 27 - Jan 06, 2012
- Pakistan court seeks Musharraf for Bugti killing - Nov 01, 2011
- When a Pakistani officer's posting fuelled coup rumour - Jan 12, 2012
- Musharraf for rapprochement between ISI, RAW - Oct 27, 2011
- "There is no moderate Taliban": Musharraf - Sep 30, 2010
- India playing great game in Afghanistan, says Musharraf - Nov 07, 2011
- Surprised that Osama was in Abbottabad: Musharraf (Lead) - May 02, 2011
- Nawaz Sharif a liar, says Musharraf - Jun 25, 2011
- Musharraf plans to return to Pakistan - May 21, 2010
- Man attempts to throw shoe at Musharraf - Nov 05, 2011
- Musharraf says he would not have allowed US operation to kill Osama - May 02, 2011
- Man throws shoe at Pervez Musharraf - Feb 07, 2011
- Pak political parties ridicule "coward" Musharraf's decision to rejoin politics - Sep 12, 2010
Tags: accusations, afghanistan, american troops, benazir bhutto, berserk, chinese state, constitutional issues, correct decision, dubai, former president, former prime minister, hoax, imagination, pakistan, pervez musharraf, president pervez musharraf, sovereignty, taliban, terror attacks, tv channel