Translate

Search This Blog

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Offering $11.6 million (Rs.1 bn) to kill Musharraf

Former president Pervez Musharraf has undermined Pakistan's sovereignty, a Baloch nationalist leader has said, offering Rs.1 billion ($11.6 million) to anyone who kills the former army chief. Talal Bugti, president of Jamhoori Watan Party, made the announcement in Quetta in the presence of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Sardar Yaqoob Nasir on Saturday. Talal blamed Musharraf for the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a popular Baloch leader who was killed in August 2006 when the military conducted an anti-insurgency operation. Talal claimed that a former brigadier who served during Musharraf's regime was ready to testify against the junta in the killing of Nawab Bugti. He said Musharraf posed a security threat and had undermined the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. 'If he was really brave, he should return to Pakistan immediately and face the criminal charges against him.' Musharraf, who seized power in 1999, ruled Pakistan for nine years. He has lived in exile after stepping down in 2008. Musharraf has announced the launch of his party All Pakistan Muslim League to fight the 2013 general election in his country. 

Pakistan reopens border crossing for NATO supply

Pakistan Sunday reopened a key border crossing for supplies to NATO troops in Afghanistan after a week-long halt at Torkham, a government official said. 'Yes, the NATO supplies have been restored,' said Khan Pasand, an official at the crossing. 'Four oil tankers and three container trucks just entered Afghanistan.' The border post was closed Sep 30, hours after a US helicopter attack killed two Pakistani troops and injured four more during a raid near Afghan frontier. The incident worsened already tense relations between Islamabad and Washington over US airstrikes in Pakistani territory. After days of hectic interactions at diplomatic and defence level, the US offered a public apology. Pakistan announced Saturday afternoon that it would allow the NATO supply traffic to continue through Torkham. The border closing left hundreds of oil tankers and trucks hauling containers stranded across Pakistan, exposing them to the attacks by insurgents. More than 150 supply vehicles were torched in five attacks, and six people were killed. According to official figures, 80 percent of NATO supplies are transported to Afghanistan via Pakistan. Two-thirds of these cross the border at Torkham, the rest at Chaman in the southwestern province of Balochistan. The Chaman border crossing remained open during the blockade at Torkham.

Musharraf Wants to Get Back in Pakistani Politics

Pervez Musharraf, the former Pakistani president and general who came to power in coup in 1999 and resigned in 2008, slammed harsh U.S. assessments of Pakistan's fight against militants in an exclusive interview with "This Week" anchor Christiane Amanpour. "[F]rankly, I have been -- Pakistan has always been accused of not doing enough," he said, but he insisted that "Pakistan is doing enough." Musharraf strongly rejected a recent White House report, which said "the Pakistani military continued to avoid military engagements that would put it in direct conflict with Afghan Taliban or al-Qa'ida forces in North Waziristan. This is as much a political choice as it is a reflection of an under-resourced military prioritizing its targets." "I totally disagree with this statement," Musharraf, speaking from London, told Amanpour. Amanpour asked the former president about criticism by the Obama administration that the ISI, the Pakistani spy agency, still supports the Taliban. "I take very strong exception to these statements which have been going on maybe since 2004, because of a misunderstanding of ground realities," he said. "After defeating the Taliban ... I always was of the view that we need to change strategy. We need to go in for deals," he said. "So my strategy always was to strike a deal, strike a deal to win away Pashtun from the Taliban." Musharraf said his views were vindicated by the fact that there is now widespread discussion of Afghan authorities coming to some kind of accommodation with elements of the Taliban. He admitted that there was still extremism in Pakistan, but pressed for seeing terrorism as a reaction. "There are problems that Pakistan is facing. There is no doubt, and nobody should deny that, that we have extremism in our society. We have al Qaeda and Taliban," he said. "But what we need -- we are not understanding -- are what are the causes behind terrorism is always a symptom. We should know that." Musharraf announced in London on Oct. 2 that he was starting a new political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League. Amanpour asked him about his aspirations to return to his country. "You decided to form a political party. And you say to go and contest the elections back in 2013. A lot of the military are basically saying that they don't want you back. And a lot of people are saying that your time is past. You were yesterday's man," Amanpour said, asking why he would return now."Well, I see the condition of Pakistan," he said. "And I see that Pakistan is suffering. And in this darkness that prevails in Pakistan, I don't see any political party which can show the light. "I don't take views from others that I am a past man or anything," he said. "I understand better what is a ground reality instead of listening to people from abroad who don't know Pakistan." The former president faces logistical difficulties, however, in his quest to return to Islamabad. He faces legal charges in Pakistan and said he will remain in the United Kingdom for the time being. "There are some problems," he admitted. "I can't go buy an air ticket and land with one suitcase in Pakistan at this moment. There are certain problems, which everyone knows, and I do understand. I have to create an environment of popularity, of political clout, and then I will go." But, he insisted, "I will be there before the elections."