Musharraf: Pakistan treated unequally in war on terror

[Omar1984]

(CNN) -- Pakistan's former president said his country is being treated "unequally" to other countries, despite being a staunch ally of the United States in its war on terror.


Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is high.

"Pakistan is being treated so unequally while we are the ones who are in the lead role fighting the global war on terror," said Pervez Musharraf, interviewed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer for "The Situation Room."

"This is what hurts Pakistan. It hurts the leadership. Indeed, it hurts the government. It hurts the people of Pakistan," said Musharraf, speaking from Dallas, Texas, during a book tour in the United States.

The interview took place amid reports Friday of U.S. drones striking militant targets in Pakistan just days after the start of the Obama administration -- which has made combating al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the Pakistan tribal region near Afghanistan its most immediate national security priority.

Musharraf also addressed a statement he made about the $10 billion in assistance from the United States that Pakistan has received, calling it a "pittance for a country which is in the lead role to fight terrorism."

He emphasized his gratitude to the United States for the funding, but said the amount is low compared to billions spent in Afghanistan and "maybe over a trillion dollars" in Iraq.

"Please don't think that this $10 billion was such a great amount that we ought to be eternally grateful while we know that we deserve much more and we should have got much more and we must get much more if we are to fight the global war on terror," he said.

Musharraf stressed that Pakistan was "in the lead role fighting a war for you for 10 years, between '79 and '89," a reference to Pakistan's alliance with the United States and the Afghan mujahedeen rebels during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Musharraf emphasized that for 42 years, up until 1989, Pakistan had been a "strategic partner" of the United States.

But many Pakistanis felt abandoned by the United States after the Russians pulled out of Afghanistan. Musharraf said the 1989 "peace dividend" went to Europe -- East Europe.

Pakistan was "left alone" from 1989 to 2001, and during that period, the militant Taliban movement took control of Afghanistan.

"What did Pakistan get out of fighting for 10 years with you? Nothing, sir," he said, explaining why public opinion in Pakistan has been "so much against the United States."

Musharraf said public opinion in his country is strongly against strikes by U.S. drones against militants in the Pakistani tribal region.

While al Qaeda and the Taliban must be confronted, he said, "public opinion is certainly against the methodology being adopted."

Musharraf, once Pakistan's army chief, resigned under intense political pressure in August as the ruling coalition began taking steps to impeach him. He swept to power in 1999 in a bloodless coup.

Asked why al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who is thought to be somewhere in the border region, hasn't been found, he replied:

"I would like to ask the United States why he hasn't been found. They have their intelligence. There are -- you have more intelligence capability. I would like to ask the United States, why Mullah Omar has not been found, who is the leader of all of the Taliban in Afghanistan?"

Musharraf: Pakistan 'treated unequally' in war on terror - CNN.com

[Jihad]

He is completely right, god I seriously miss him and his leadership abilities.
How on earth did we get someone like Zardari, I mean, out of 172 million Pakistanis, how on earth...

[Omar1984]

Originally Posted by Jihad

He is completely right, god I seriously miss him and his leadership abilities.
How on earth did we get someone like Zardari, I mean, out of 172 million Pakistanis, how on earth...

Wow, is the population of Pakistan now 172 million?

It used to be 162 million just 5 years ago...wow!

[Jihad]

Originally Posted by Omar1984

Wow, is the population of Pakistan now 172 million?

It used to be 162 million just 5 years ago...wow!

Yep, as we see, numbers matter aswell, so keep breeding my fellow Pakistanis.
Anyways, can someone please tell me if Musharraf is ever going to play a significant role in Pakistani politics sooner or later?

[metalfalcon]

Pakistan's former president said his country is being treated "unequally" to other countries, despite being a staunch ally of the United States in its war on terror.

He was the one who was negotiating with the Americans, He just Laid down in front of American demands, He compromised Pakistani Sovereignty and Self respect and told us that if i would have not done this " American would have bombed us back to stone age " and i was so scared and that's why i co-operated with USA because they simply said " Are you with us or against us " . Its all BS mann.

"Please don't think that this $10 billion was such a great amount that we ought to be eternally grateful while we know that we deserve much more and we should have got much more and we must get much more if we are to fight the global war on terror," he said.

Why he didn't said this when he was in command ?

Musharraf said public opinion in his country is strongly against strikes by U.S. drones against militants in the Pakistani tribal region.

Who Allowed them in the first Place, Who was the one who didn't Protested the Right way and did nothing to Warn Americans at that time.

[maqsad]

Originally Posted by Jihad

He is completely right, god I seriously miss him and his leadership abilities.
How on earth did we get someone like Zardari, I mean, out of 172 million Pakistanis, how on earth...

We got Zardari because Musharaff started helping him in the late 90s when he was in jail, got corruption charges dropped against him and then finally handed over the throne to him. That is how on earth....

Still miss him?

[metalfalcon]

Originally Posted by maqsad

We got Zardari because Musharaff started helping him in the late 90s when he was in jail, got corruption charges dropped against him and then finally handed over the throne to him. That is how on earth....

Still miss him?

Rightly said this is the best answer for all the Fans of Musharraf. Even i used to like him and i was a big Fan of Musharraf but his actions just before his Fall made him the worst Leader of this Era.

[BATMAN]

Originally Posted by maqsad

We got Zardari because Musharaff started helping him in the late 90s when he was in jail, got corruption charges dropped against him and then finally handed over the throne to him. That is how on earth....

Still miss him?

What he was suppose to do with husband of BB lying in Jail for seven years without any charges being proven?
Than some of you may have claimed that justice was not done!
Similar like Musharraf went after Bugti, people were not happy either!
Musharraf pardoned both Sharif and Zardari and allowed their return.
Musharraf steped down not because of any deal with Zardari or Sharif. It was because Zardari was about to impeach him.

[Captain03]

damn mushi
come back

[Omar1984]

You can watch the interview at Musharraf: Pakistan 'treated unequally' in war on terror - CNN.com


The full interview will be aired in CNN on Saturday 6 PM ET

[TruthSeeker]

I think this "world tour" of Musharraf is a good thing for Pakistan. He should keep it up, speaking out for what Pakistan is sacrificing. He is an effective advocate. Pakistan should hire a PR firm in the US to get him "booked" on more US media outlets. The more he is heard, the better.

[moha199]

Originally Posted by maqsad

We got Zardari because Musharaff started helping him in the late 90s when he was in jail, got corruption charges dropped against him and then finally handed over the throne to him. That is how on earth....

Still miss him?

Pakistani people are funny hahaha check this out. PPP's voters knew that bb is dead they knew that PPP will not be lead by anyother but Zardari but still voted for him so why blaim musharraf

[zombie]

Well musharraf is a big reason for pakistans current bind. He started two timing both the americans and pakistanis to keep his chair. The fact that he kept his chair for so long shows he was successful to a good extent.

Well in some sense the common pakistani would have to share some blame in this. People go hammer and tongs when a politician is in power but would keep mum when its a military dictator. Only towards the end of musharraf's reign did so many people come out openly and that too becuase US looked the other way.

Anyways now the tours and books must be good bucks now.....with a possible "expert" invites in some forums/speaker series.

That man IS good!

[Patriot]

He is patriotic Pakistani unlike BB or other Politicians who blame Army and ISI When out of power.Honestly BB would not mind selling her childrens for power.

[fatman17]

US reimburses $ 101 million to Pakistan

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (APP): The United States has reimbursed $ 101 million to Pakistan on account of coalition support fund that supports war on terror.

With the transfer of the amount on Friday, the U.S. has now made reimbursement for expenditures that Pakistan incurred up to April 2008.