‘Extremism in Pak’ fuelling terrorism, linkage with Taliban: Musharraf
By ANISaturday, October 9, 2010
PESHAWAR - Former Pakistani military ruler and now the head of the newly established All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), Pervez Musharraf has acknowledged that extremism in Pakistan is responsible for the rise in terrorism in the country as well as its linkage with the Taliban.
Talking about homegrown insurgents in Pakistan, who were increasingly becoming a problem for the government, Musharraf said that Islamabad needed to focus on its own “breeding ground of terrorism,” The News reported.
“Extremism in Pakistan is what is fuelling terrorism and fuelling the linkage with the Taliban,” he pointed out.
Commenting on how effectively Pakistan was dealing with the terrorists and extremists operating with impunity in the border region with Afghanistan, Musharraf said a misperception was being created and disseminated by senior members of official Afghan circles.
“The problem is not originating from Pakistan, but in Afghanistan, where not enough is being done,” he said, adding, “They may be coming into Pakistan, they have sanctuaries in Pakistan, they have support, there are Taliban in the mountains of Pakistan, but the main force- the concentration of Taliban- is in Afghanistan. So this is a misperception being created - that the problem is in Pakistan.”
He also slammed the Taliban’s attitude towards women and their edict, which said that women should stay inside houses and not receive education.
“I am of quite the opposite view because I think the Islamic view on women is certainly an emancipated woman, and not the backward woman that they are talking about. So there are a lot of differences like that.”
About his ‘new political career’ in Pakistan, the former president said, “I would like to come into politics- into the democratic dispensation of Pakistan- on my own feet, with no need of assistance from anyone. It is the people of Pakistan who need to support me and back me. That is the way to come forward and win. Not on the shoulders of anybody else.” (ANI)
