Pakistan to stay in US-led coalition: Musharraf rules out coup
“Pakistan has taken a very deliberate, considered decision to be part of the coalition... We will remain part of the coalition till the attainment of the strategic objective that we have set for ourselves,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after talks in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street offices, Gen Musharraf said he wanted the US-led military campaign against Afghanistan to be “short and targeted”.
Musharraf, on a stopover in London on his way to the United States for talks with US President George W. Bush, flew in from Paris earlier in the day.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said there would be no letup in the military strikes during Ramazan which starts on Nov 17.
Naturally the alliance wanted to end the campaign as quickly as possible and would take account “of the sensitivities” of the Muslim world over Ramazan. But he argued the strikes must go on as the Taliban also continued their fight.
“But in the end I think everyone understands that the campaign has to continue ultimately until the objectives are secured.”
Gen Musharraf did not echo his remarks, saying only he hoped that the campaign would come to an end before Ramazan. He said it was important that the sensibilities over Ramazan were respected.
“One would certainly hope that the military operation comes to an end as fast as possible...before the month of Ramazan,” he told reporters.
“Beyond that I would just like to say that the sensitivities of the month of Ramazan have to be considered in the decisions of the military campaign.”
Only a lack of intelligence information was stopping the coalition against terrorism from winning a quick victory, Gen Musharraf said. And once this had been obtained the action could end swiftly.
“What is missing is accurate intelligence which is delaying the issue. The moment accurate intelligence is available I am sure the operation can be curtailed to a minimum,” Gen Musharraf said.
Blair thanked Gen Musharraf for his courageous support of the alliance and assured the Pakistani leader of Western assistance in his country’s efforts to overcome domestic economic problems and to cope with the refugee problem.
“You can be assured of our complete and total support in the development of Pakistan in the future,” Blair said.
Earlier, speaking at a news conference after meeting French leaders in Paris on Thursday, President Pervez Musharraf dismissed speculations about his possible vulnerability to a military coup or mass protests at home while travelling abroad on a week of whirlwind diplomacy.
Gen Musharraf said reports about rising opposition to him were baseless. “The very fact that I’m sitting comfortably here talking to you, leaving my country for seven days, shows that all these perceptions are misplaced,” he said.
“There is no risk involved,” he said after meeting French leaders.
Musharraf said anti-American protests hit a peak after the US-led bombing campaign against Afghanistan began on Oct 7, and now hardly rallied more than 1,000 people.
“In a population of 140 million, one or two thousand is absolutely meaningless, I’m not at all disturbed,” the president said. “This is only being done by a very small minority of religious extremists.”
About possible threat from generals who disagree with his pro-US stand, Gen Musharraf said: “As chief of army staff, I’ve been trained in a certain manner. I wouldn’t be worth my salt if my generals and my subordinates don’t follow me.
“I lead and they follow.”
HALT IN BOMBING: President Musharraf said the American bombing campaign against Afghanistan should be stopped for Ramazan.
If the bombing is not stopped, it could provoke trouble among Muslims throughout the world, he told journalists at the conclusion of an official visit to Paris, where he discussed the situation in Afghanistan with French leaders.
Gen Musharraf said that he would ask Bush to suspend the bombing in Ramazan, which begins in mid-November.
Earlier on Thursday, Musharraf held talks with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, after which he declared “a total unanimity of views” with French leaders regarding the fight against terrorism.
He also said that Jospin had shown himself to be “very resolute” in wanting to help his country resolve its economic problems.
Musharraf told journalists that a continuation of the bombing campaign, particularly during Ramazan, risked causing “negative fall-out in the entire Muslim world”.
“One would desire it to be short and targeted,” he said.
While implying that there should be a pause in the bombing during Ramazan, Gen Musharraf recalled the need for a three pronged approach — military, political and humanitarian — to resolving the crisis sparked by the September 11 attacks in the United States.
PARIS TALKS: Earlier, Gen Pervez Musharraf dismissed speculations on Thursday about his possible vulnerability to a military coup or mass protests at home while travelling abroad on a week of whirlwind diplomacy.
“There is no risk involved,” he said after meeting French leaders.
He said reports about rising opposition to him were baseless.
“The very fact that I’m sitting comfortably here talking to you, leaving my country for seven days, shows that all these perceptions are misplaced,” he told a Paris news conference in response to a question about his grip on power.
Musharraf said anti-American protests hit a peak after the US-led bombing campaign against Afghanistan began on Oct 7, and now hardly rallied more than 1,000 people.
“In a population of 140 million, one or two thousand is absolutely meaningless, I’m not at all disturbed,” the president said. “This is only being done by a very small minority of religious extremists.”
About possible threat from generals who disagree with his pro-US stand, Gen Musharraf said: “As chief of army staff, I’ve been trained in a certain manner. I wouldn’t be worth my salt if my generals and my subordinates don’t follow me.
“I lead and they follow.”
HALT IN BOMBING: President Musharraf said the American bombing campaign against Afghanistan should be stopped for Ramazan.
If the bombing is not stopped, it could provoke trouble among Muslims throughout the world, he told journalists at the conclusion of an official visit to Paris, where he discussed the situation in Afghanistan with French leaders.
Gen Musharraf said that he would ask Bush to suspend the bombing in Ramazan, which begins in mid-November.
Earlier on Thursday, Musharraf held talks with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, after which he declared “a total unanimity of views” with French leaders regarding the fight against terrorism.
He also said that Jospin had shown himself to be “very resolute” in wanting to help his country resolve its economic problems.—Agencies