[NYTr] Musharraf tries to shore up govt as domestic problems grow deeper

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Steven L. Robinson (activ-l)

The Independent - Aug 13, 2007
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2859072.ece


Musharraf tries to shore up government as domestic problems grow deeper

By Andrew Buncombe, Asia Correspondent

Pakistan's embattled leader, General Pervez Musharraf, dramatically
intervened in a "peace council" meeting in Afghanistan yesterday,
declaring that the two countries would work together to fight the
extremism and hatred he said had held them back.

More than 600 Afghan and tribal leaders listened as General Musharraf
told them that the neighbouring countries were confronted with a
"particularly dark form" of terrorism. Speaking at the talks' closing
session, he said he had no doubt that Taliban militants found support
inside Pakistan and that they crossed between the two countries.

"Our societies face a great danger in the shape of fringe groups, a
small minority that preaches hate, violence and backwardness," General
Musharraf said.

"These forces are disrupting peace and harmony in our societies,
impeding our progress and development and maligning Islam, our noble
faith of peace, tolerance and compassion. We must rescue our societies
from this new danger and work together to effectively defeat the forces
of extremism and terrorism."

General Musharraf's comments about the forces holding Pakistan back are
likely to fuel debate as the country prepares to celebrate its 60th
anniversary of independence from Britain on Tuesday. While neighbouring,
democratic India is in the process of transforming itself into a modern
nation as it too turns 60, the progress of Pakistan - which has been
ruled by military leaders for much of its history - has been much
slower.

General Musharraf, whose rule as Pakistan's military leader has seen him
strongly supported by the United States since the terror attacks on
America in 2001, did not focus on this. Rather he said that as "true
Muslims" the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan must work to isolate
the militants and win the "hearts and minds" of the people. Elements of
the Pakistani state - in particular its intelligence services - have
long been accused of attempting to undermine the authorities in
Afghanistan. General Musharraf - who pulled out of the opening of the
peace talks just days earlier - said that Pakistan wanted to see a
strong, stable and peaceful neighbour.

"It is therefore painful for us to hear allegations that we are
deliberately causing disturbance or violence in your country. We do not
have such a policy and we will never have such a short-sighted and
disastrous policy," he said. "Taliban are part of the Afghan society.
Most of them may be ignorant and misguided, but all of them are not
diehard militants and fanatics who defy even the most fundamental
values of our culture and our faith."

He also said two neighbours must "watch" against the actions of
outsiders who may wish to try to create mistrust between the two
countries. He did not say who the outsiders were but simply referred to
them as extremists and fanatics.

At the meeting in Kabul yesterday, General Musharraf received an
extended standing ovation as he and Afghanistan's leader, President
Hamid Karzai - another ally of the US - walked into a large white tent
hosting the peace meeting.

Mr Karzai spoke only briefly, having made a lengthy opening address on
Thursday. But he predicted that the meeting would have a "positive"
result. "Afghanistan has confidence in its neighbouring country," said
Mr Karzai, who along with General Musharraf and President George Bush
planned the meeting during a meeting at the White House more than a
year ago. "I'm praying that both countries have peace and prosperity."

General Musharraf's participation in the talks comes at a time when he
is facing considerable difficulties - not least a surge in violence that
followed the operation to storm the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad
last month. There is strong pressure on him from the US to do more to
take action against the extremists in the north-west of the country,
where the majority of the attacks and suicide-bombings have taken place.

In addition to this, he faces an array of political problems ahead of
elections that are officially scheduled to take place before the end of
the year. Quite how he intends to retain the presidency of the country
while remaining head of the army remains unclear. Former prime minister
Benazir Bhutto told reporters at the weekend that she had a
"confidential understanding" with General Musharraf that he would give
up his uniform if the two agreed to a power-sharing agreement.

Mrs Bhutto, who has lived in self-imposed exile since fleeing Pakistan
to avoid corruption charges, said any deal with General Musharraf
depended on him taking a series of confidence-building steps by the end
of August, including lifting a ban on politicians serving a third term
as prime minister. "I'm expecting the general elections to be called
some time in October or November," she said. "But if I had my little
Aladdin's lamp, then I would ask the genie to get me there by Eid,
which falls in October. I would like to go back to Pakistan sooner
rather than later. Musharraf is prepared for my return to Pakistan, but
the timing of it is under dispute between the two of us."

General Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, wants to be
elected for a five-year term by the current regional and national
assemblies, where the party he heads holds power. His opponents want
elections for the assemblies to be held first. A deal with Mrs Bhutto
could give General Musharraf a much wider base of support.