President Pervez Musharraf said yesterday that thanks to the strong pursuit by his countryâs forces in the border region with Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda had been rendered an âineffectiveâ group that was âon the runâ.
| Kind of a different interpretation from the Frenchie... |
At a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Musharraf categorically ruled out any deployment of US forces on the Pakistani side of the border in operating against either Al-Qaeda or Taleban elements. With Pakistani forces and intelligence operatives working effectively against Al-Qaeda, the groupâs underground and personal networks had been severely hampered. âTherefore it is an ineffective organization,â Musharraf said about Al-Qaeda. âThey are hiding and on the run.â Asked whether the efforts against the groups could see the deployment of US forces in Pakistan, he stated: âNo sir, that is not a possibility at all.â
| "So, really, there's no reason to have the Merkins tromping around in NWFP..." |
Musharraf, who has survived two assassination attempts, said the threats to his life were due to the strong efforts against Al-Qaeda and the Taleban. âI am treading on their toes and so they are a danger to me,â the Pakistani president said, avowing that the vast majority of his countrymen supported his stance against the groups, with only a âminority of extremistsâ who are opposed.
| That's... ummm... three... no, four assassination attempts. There were two more in 2002... |
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