Skip to main content
Tags: Musharraf | Pakistan | relations

Musharraf Calls for Rescue of Pakistan-U.S. Relations

Sunday, 08 January 2012 02:44 PM EST

DUBAI — Urgent action is needed to salvage Pakistan's dire relations with the United States, former president Pervez Musharraf told Reuters on Sunday, after announcing he would return home soon to re-enter politics.

U.S.-Pakistan relations were plunged further into crisis in November when NATO helicopters and fighter jets killed as many as 28 Pakistani troops in attacks on two military outposts in northwest Pakistan.

"Today Pakistan-U.S. relations are at their lowest," Musharraf told Reuters in an interview in Dubai. "This is because of a trust and confidence deficit."

In May, U.S. special forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan without consulting Islamabad, humiliating its military.

Pakistan, which uneasily allied itself with Washington after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, called the raid a flagrant violation of its sovereignty.

"I believe Pakistan needs to justify and clarify the issue of Osama bin Laden having been found in Pakistan," Musharraf said.

"At the same time, the United States needs to identify what environment they are leaving in 2014 when they quit because that is going to affect directly Pakistan."

Islamabad's cooperation with Washington is seen as crucial to helping to stabilise the region before foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.

"I believe that inter-state relations are more than half interpersonal relations between the leaders . . . if I think about myself, I could anytime pick up the phone to President Bush whenever I got agitated on anything."

 

On Sunday, Musharraf addressed a rally via video in Pakistan's biggest city and commercial hub, Karachi, and announced his plan to return to the country between Jan. 27 and Jan. 30 and participate in a parliamentary election due by 2013.

Some media reports have said Musharraf, who faces the threat of arrest in Pakistan on charges that he failed to provide adequate security to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto before her assassination in 2007, will seek Saudi help in obtaining guarantees that he will not be detained.

"There are no guarantees that I'm looking for from anyone, I said many times that my intention is to get the support of the people," Musharraf told Reuters.

He said however he would hold talks with Saudi officials. Saudi Arabia has considerable influence in Pakistan because of its economic support.

Asked whether he had asked any of Pakistan's military leaders for protection once he returns, Musharraf said it was not the army's duty provide security to individuals.

"I don't like to embarrass them, I haven't asked them," he said.

"I will ensure my own safety, I know how to keep myself safe . . . there are a large group of officers who are in support and I'm very proud of that."

Musharraf said he believed that the army would not move to take over power from unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari.

He said he had made a mistake by granting amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murder, and terrorism between 1986 and 1999.

"The NRO is something I shouldn't have done. Although I was advised, but the ultimate decision was mine," he said, referring to the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinancehe issued in 2007.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the NRO unconstitutional in 2009.

© 2024 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.


538
2012-44-08
Sunday, 08 January 2012 02:44 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved