Pak 'in danger', says Musharraf

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Apr 19 (PTI) Warning that Pakistan "is in
danger", former President Pervez Musharraf Sunday said its
leadership must take cognisance of concerns expressed by world
community about security situation in the country but asserted
that nobody should dictate any course of action to it.

"The country is in danger and if we get bogged down in
minor and old issues, there will be problems," Musharraf told
reporters at the airport here before he embarked on a visit to
Saudi Arabia.

"The issue is very serious. Everyone in the world is
seeing the seriousness of the issue in Pakistan. Everyone is
trying to chart a course of action," he said.

At the same time, he said, Pakistan must chart its own
course of action to steer the country out of the problems it
is facing.

"And we have to be clear that nobody should dictate any
course of action to us. We have to find our own course of
action and save this country and move it forward towards
progress," he added.

Asked whether he thought the peace deal with the Taliban
in northwestern Swat valley would usher in peace and end
suicide attacks, Musharraf replied: "Nothing can be said (as
of now). If the agreement is only for ensuring speedy and
cheap justice within the Pakistani legal structure and system,
then it is alright."

"But if (the deal was inked) from a position of weakness,
if they (Taliban) want to challenge the writ of government,
the deal is dangerous and should not be allowed," Musharraf
said, adding that he believed the army and the administration
are thinking about this issue and will take the correct steps.

President Asif Ali Zardari recently approved a
controversial law to enforce Shariah or Islamic law in Swat to
quell a nearly two-year-old Taliban insurgency in the region
located just 160 kms from Islamabad. Musharraf had launched a
military campaign against the Taliban in Swat in late 2007.


Musharraf said no conditions should be attached to the
financial aid provided to Pakistan. "We should not be happy
about just getting money. There is interest on it, we are not
getting it for free," he said, referring to the USD five
billion in aid pledged to Pakistan at a donors' conference in
Tokyo on Friday.

The former military ruler was irked when asked if he
would be willing to appear before any commission that could be
set up to probe the 2007 military operation against radical
elements holed up in the Lal Masjid in Islamabad.

"It is time to end the lies. Those who say women and
children were killed and several hundreds died in the Lal
Masjid operation are telling white lies. Only 94 people were
killed and all of them were terrorists and extremists. Not a
single woman or child was killed," he said.

Musharraf said he would meet King Abdullah during his
stay in Saudi Arabia. He said he would also visit London and
Prague for interviews and delivering lectures. PTI RHL