Time
Magazine's 10 Questions to General Musharraf
NEW
YORK: In his latest visit to the UN, General Pervez Musharraf
did a reasonable media job. This interview with Time
Magazine was part of it:
Since
the Sept. 11 attacks, few leaders have had more headaches than
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf. He sided with the US against
the Taliban and almost went to war with India over Kashmir. Even
now, many believe Osama bin Laden to be holed up in (or near)
Pakistan's remote tribal areas. In New York City for the U.N.
General Assembly, Musharraf answered questions from TIME's top
editors.
Do
you think Osama bin Laden is alive?
He is alive.
What
evidence do you have?
Electronic means. We know it because of messages going up and
down. We are monitoring things. Through cooperation with [US]
intelligence, we know.
Is
Osama bin Laden in Pakistan?
Your guess is as good or as bad as mine. I am reasonably sure
he is constantly on the move. So, therefore, he could be moving
on our side or, of course, on the other side [in Afghanistan].
Has
al-Qaeda been significantly diminished?
I think they have been very significantly diminished. They are
on the run. They are hiding. They are on the Pakistani side also.
Let it not be said that I am trying to say that there is nothing
happening in Pakistan.
How
do you feel when people say you haven't done enough to root out
al-Qaeda and the Taliban?
This is a very, very unfair comment. We have done the maximum
in the fight against terrorism. Almost 500 people have been apprehended
by Pakistan. It is in Pakistan's interest to act against all al-Qaeda.
We want to do it. Our forces want to do it. Is it possible for
us to launch a military operation [to] sweep the whole [tribal]
area? I'm afraid that is not within the capability of Pakistan
or even of the US forces. Why has the US not succeeded in
doing that in Afghanistan? It is not doable. I think it is very
convenient to put the failure on Pakistan.
Are there also cultural issues that divide the US and
Pakistan?
The conflict started after the cold war. We fought this Afghan
war [from 1979-89] together and once that war was over, what happened?
Everyone left. Pakistan was left high and dry with 4 million refugees
and no assistance.
What
can the US do to win back the support of Pakistanis?
To temper down, to moderate the Indian attitude toward Pakistan
on the issue of the dispute of Kashmir. And also to bring balance.
Pakistan had been the strategic partner; India was in the other
camp in the cold war. Now all of a sudden India is the strategic
partner, and there is a feeling that after the cold war Pakistan
was ditched. This has to be rectified.
Are
insurgents crossing the line of control from Pakistan into Kashmir?
700,000 Indian troops couldn't seal the border, so I cannot also
guarantee [it]. But I can guarantee one thing: there is no government
sponsoring of anything that is going across the Line of Control.
When
is real democracy going to be restored in Pakistan?
We must tailor democracy to Pakistan's environment.
Do
you feel you have the World's most difficult job?
I do have a difficult job. [But] I am not one of those who get
flustered.
