'Nothing can go wrong in Pakistan till ISI, army is present'

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) As long as the ISI and armed
forces of Pakistan are there, nothing can go wrong in that
country, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said.

Asserting that Pakistan's integrity can never break up
as long as the armed forces are there, Musharraf said in an
interview to Karan Thapar's Devil's Advocate programme in
India's private television channel CNN IBN, "the biggest
disservice to Pakistan and the action against the Taliban,
terrorists and Al-Qaeda is when you undermine the ISI and the
Pakistani Army".

Asked whether the west and India's concern about
Taliban was exaggerated he said, "It is very exaggerated. It
appears as if they can take over Pakistan. How can they take
over Pakistan? Either through force, which means they are
going to defeat the Pakistani army or politically which means
they are to win the next elections...both of these are not
possible.

The former Pakistan President said he did not agree
with US President Barack Obama's Af-Pak strategy. "....because
we are being bracketed with Afghanistan. Afghanistan hardly
has any governance, it is out of our control. And, also may I
add there is an Indian connection there too in terrorism and
extremism.

"...we have to look at events in India, Pakistan and
Afghanistan," he said.

Questioned as to whether Af-Pak should be broadened to
include Kashmir, maybe India as a whole. He said, "Yes, yes
absolutely".

Musharraf said "we are talking about acting
holistically against terrorism and extremism. Now, if we were
to resolve only Pakistan, Afghanistan and the borders and
frontiers then it makes no sense because what you are talking
about...these LeT and JeM...are all because of Kashmir".

He did not rule out the presence of rogue elements in
the ISI or in the Pakistan Army who are sympathisers, like
Mumbai terror accused Hafiz Sayeed.

When asked if there were rogue elements, who were
sympathisers and not in agreement with government policy,
Musharraf said, "If these elements are there and they are in
service in the ISI or the army, certainly they will be sorted
out because that goes against the government policy".

"...I am sure it is against the army or the ISI
policy. There has to be unity on that policy, and a standard
policy is being followed. If there is any element which is
violating that policy, it has to be punished and dealt with,"
he said in the interview.

Musharraf said, "But that doesn't mean there is
official, government patronage or ISI or army patronage". PTI
SPC