ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday that deployment of more US troops in Pakistan to hunt for Al Qaeda fugitives would be unwise and was unnecessary.
Asked in an interview with CNN how he would respond if the United States asked to put more troops in Pakistan, Gen Musharraf replied: “US troops? No, I don’t think that would be wise at all. We are looking after any foreign elements in Pakistan. We have deployed a part of our army and the frontier force for this purpose and the United States knows what we are doing.
“We are fully involved in this act. We don’t need assistance. We will ask for assistance if we require it. I think our forces are capable of meeting whatever is required in Pakistan.”
When asked about the failure of efforts to find Osama bin Laden, President Musharraf suggested Al Qaeda had been significantly weakened.
“Well, Osama bin Laden has not been found — I would say he may even be dead, but the leadership and the entire organization is in total disarray at the moment.”
Asked if he expected some kind of attack on a Western target on the anniversary of Sept 11, the president said: “One can’t rule out the possibility. But again, one would not like to put the entire onus on the door of Al Qaeda again, because I don’t think they are organized.
“But so much of whatever is happening in the Middle East has its own repercussions and therefore a possibility does exist.”
ATTACK ON IRAQ: Pakistan is not “at all” interested in joining efforts to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, President Musharraf said.
“I wouldn’t like Pakistan to get involved at all,” he said.
“We have too much on our hands here internally and regionally and we wouldn’t like to get involved anywhere outside.”
Gen Musharraf warned that a US military strike against Iraq would not only raise ire among the Muslim world, but would also upset other Western interests.
“I don’t think there is full support even in the European Union and in many other big powers, in Russia, China... so I think it’s going to disturb, cause a lot of imbalance.”
He warned that too many Muslim countries were being targeted in military operations and equated efforts to remove Saddam Hussein with yet another attack on a Muslim country.
“At the moment all the political disputes, all the military action, all the casualties, the suffering, are by the Muslims around the world, because all the political disputes involve Muslims unfortunately,” he said.
“And more unfortunately Muslims happen to be at the receiving end every year. Therefore another ... action against a Muslim country will certainly have its impact.”
The army chief also said there was “no point” in Islamabad providing any kind of support to a military strike on Iraq, as it did with the US-led bombardment of Afghanistan. “We have no geographical affinity with Iraq, and therefore there’s no point in our getting involved.”
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES: Changes in the Constitution would ensure sustainability of democracy in the country, President Musharraf said.
In reply to a question on constitutional amendments by Christianne Amanpour, the general said he wanted “to counter any coups, in the future.”
“There was unbridled use of authority and power by the chief executive — i.e. the prime minister — for his own party and political interests, for corruption, loot and plunder and misgovernance,” he said, adding: “The changes in the Constitution are to ensure sustainability of democracy in Pakistan.”
Gen Musharraf said he had given away the power of the president and created the National Security Council “where everything will be debated.”
“Uniformed people have to be there if you want to keep them out. Because, whenever there is a problem in Pakistan everyone runs to the Chief of Army Staff and they always drag him into the problem,” he added.
“So, why not (to) include him in the body (NSC) so that whatever he (COAS) has to say or do is debated in this body of the National Security Council. There is no reason whatsoever for him ever to take over,” he added.
On cracking down against extremists, President Musharraf said the whole public was fed up with the extremist acts before we cracked down, “so, I think, it will have a positive effect in the long run.” In reply to a question whether the Sept 11 events made life difficult in Pakistan, he said: “It has raised some opposition. It has generated a kind of dynamics within the country. It has given rise to a little bit more of extremism.”
“But, I personally feel, it is good that we have faced it and it is good in the long run.” Pakistan, he stated, was improving its law enforcement agencies.
Referring to the terrorist attacks, he said, “I am sure with the passage of time normalcy will return, better sense will prevail in these extremists also and we will get back to normal.”
—Agencies
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