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India-Pakistan
Musharraf lashes out at Karzai on terror issue
2006-09-27
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf lashed out at Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai in an interview with Canada AM, accusing him of misleading the public on the war on terror. "I think he is purposely, purposely not speaking the truth. That is what I think," Musharraf told host Beverly Thomson in an interview in New York on Tuesday. "He knows the truth. He's finding it more convenient for himself to hide the truth and cast all expression on Pakistan."

Musharraf accused Karzai of casting blame on Pakistan to distract from the ethnic imbalance in the Afghan government. "Taliban have ruled Afghanistan for six years. Where did they come from? They come from Pakistan? They took over the whole of Afghanistan -- they were the locals, they were right there," said Musharraf, whose Muslim nation is a key ally of U.S. President George Bush in the war on terrorism.

The general said he was forced to consider how Afghan-trained insurgents might attack North American targets when he decided whether to play a role in the war on terror. "The route is through Pakistan and therefore we would be sucked in. We have to play a role, otherwise we will be forced to play a role, maybe, especially with our security problems in the east," he said. "We had an enemy in India who would be prepared any time to support and play a role in rolling over Pakistan and reaching out to Afghanistan, so all these things have to be considered."
"Otherwise we will be forced to play a role, maybe, as a target"
Karzai and Musharraf, who are squabbling over whether Pakistan is doing enough to prevent militants there from supporting the insurgency in Afghanistan, are to meet with Bush on Wednesday. Bush said Tuesday he wanted "to watch the body language of these two leaders to determine how tense things are." Karzai replied: "I'll be good."

Karzai hasn't named Pakistan, but has been clearly inferring for months that his neighbor to the south and east has been soft on the ethnically Pashtun, Islamic fundamentalist Taliban, which has roots in both countries. On Tuesday, Afghanistan's elected leader said: "We know our problems. We have difficulties. But Afghanistan also knows where the problem is, in extremism, in madrassas preaching hatred, places by the name of madrassas preaching hatred."
"Places beginning with the letter "P".
Karzai also appeared critical of a deal Musharraf's government reached early this month with the tribal chiefs in North Waziristan, an area along the Afghanistan border that's only nominally under government control. The tribal areas of Pakistan along the Afghanistan border are seen as a sanctuary for al Qaeda fighters -- and possibly even hiding leaders like Osama bin Laden -- and of fighters for the Taliban. The deal will see Pakistan's troops retreat to their barracks and not attack the tribal leaders. In return, the tribal leaders agree not to go fight in Afghanistan. Foreign fighters, meaning those with al Qaeda, would have to leave or respect the deal.

"We will have to wait and see if that is going to be implemented exactly the way it is signed," Karzai said.
"It's not like I believe it, but one must observe formalities"
"But, generally, we will back any move, any deal that will deny terrorism a sanctuary in North Waziristan or in the tribal territories of Pakistan."

Musharraf, who was interviewed by Canada AM to talk about his new autobiography "In the Line of Fire," said he felt it important that he write his memoirs. "As far as I'm concerned, I took the reality into account that I am in focus today, and that Pakistan is in focus today," he said. "There are so many misperceptions and misunderstandings of the area and fight against al Qaeda or Taliban or the environment of Pakistan," he said.
You mean like the misperception that you're an trusted ally
On Monday, Musharraf said it was Karzai who wasn't doing enough to battle extremism in Afghanistan. "As soon as President Karzai understands his own country, the easier it'll be for him," he told the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations.

Bush played down the sniping, saying it wasn't affecting efforts to fight terror. "Quite the contrary. We're working as hard as ever in doing that," Bush told reporters."It's in President Karzai's interest to see Bin Laden brought to justice. It is in President Musharraf's interests to see Bin Laden brought to justice. Our interests coincide," Bush said.
Musharraf would be delighted if Binny was captured any place but Pakistan.
Musharraf became the first head of state to appear on the hit U.S. political satire show "The Daily Show" this week. He had barely thanked host Jon Stewart for the jasmine green tea and Twinkies when Stewart cut to the chase.

"Where's Osama bin Laden?"

"I don't know," replied Musharraf in the pre-recorded interview. "You know where he is? You lead on, we'll follow you."
So you won't mind if we start overturning stones in Pakistan?
But Musharraf was frank when Stewart asked if he had not mentioned the U.S. war in Iraq in his memoir because it has "gone so well." "It has led certainly to more extremism and terrorism around the world," Musharraf said.
Posted by:Steve

#11  Why is it Pakistan so strongly denies Al-Qaida exists on it's soil?

Methinks the man doth protest too much.

It's amazing that 2 (non-US) heads of state are duking it out in the court of public opinion in the US. Never thought that day would come.

Easy. One is grateful for our intervention, the other fears it.

Posted by: Zenster   2006-09-27 22:42  

#10  It's amazing that 2 (non-US) heads of state are duking it out in the court of public opinion in the US. Never thought that day would come.
Posted by: Snuns Thromp1484   2006-09-27 21:43  

#9  He's gonna retire, get out of Dodge and end up in the Chicago suburbs.

$10 to Fred if I'm wrong.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2006-09-27 18:45  

#8  Karzai also has the best fashion sense, that cool green cloak is to die for.
Posted by: 6   2006-09-27 18:05  

#7  Surely would be fun to be that fly on the wall tonight, Pres Bush hosting Karzai and Musharraf for dinner.

Bush said Tuesday he wanted "to watch the body language of these two leaders to determine how tense things are." Karzai replied: "I'll be good."
Posted by: Sherry   2006-09-27 17:32  

#6  Yet another successful stop on Perv's Amity and Book Tour: Making Friends and Influencing Allies.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-09-27 17:14  

#5  Karzai versus Peverse, the later is the greater BS star any day.
Posted by: Duh!   2006-09-27 12:46  

#4  Why is it Pakistan so strongly denies Al-Qaida exists on it's soil?

Admitting it means they'd get more pressure to do something about it.

They wouldn't do anything about it, which would likely result in some sort of punishment. They might lose access to parts for fighters, or access to the US market, or even their nukes.

It would also mean the US would tend closer to India, which would put Pakistan in a worse position.
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2006-09-27 12:03  

#3  I know who i would trust more- Karzai over Perv all day long!!!!

People need to realise that it is the extremist ie MMA,Talibunnies and the militant groups that are keeping him in power.

We need to support/fund a decent democratic opposition if there is any??????
Posted by: Cheregum Crelet7867   2006-09-27 11:25  

#2  Why is it Pakistan so strongly denies Al-Qaida exists on it's soil?
Posted by: Jesing Ebbease3087   2006-09-27 11:08  

#1  Locals? In times of Massood, the Northern alliance captured a number of Taliban "locals" who didn't speak a word of Pahsto only in Urdu. Funny locals isn't it?
Posted by: JFM   2006-09-27 10:45  

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