Musharraf says the US made threats to bomb Pakistan
Posted on : Fri, 22 Sep 2006 08:22:00 GMT | Author : Peter Goodyear
News Category : General
Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf has said in an interview, that his country was threatened to be bombed by the United States in the year 2001, post the 9/11 terrorist attacks, if it did not offer its cooperation in America's war against terrorism.Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf has said in an interview, that his country was threatened to be bombed by the United States in the year 2001, post the 9/11 terrorist attacks, if it did not offer its cooperation in America's war against terrorism. The interview, held with CBS news magazine show “60 Minutes”, will be aired on television network CBS on Sunday. Musharraf said the threat was issued by the then US deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, during conversation with the intelligence director of Pakistan.
"The intelligence director told me that (Mr Armitage) said, 'Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the stone age'," said General Musharraf who added that it was insulting. The Pakistani leader told CBS news "I think it was a very rude remark."
Although Mr Armitage did not agree with the terminology used, he did say that his message to Pakistan, to help America in its campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan, was tough. He told CNN that his message to Pakistan was that the country was either "with us or against us", but he was not aware how the message was communicated in such a different way to President Musharraf.
Prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks, Pakistan was maintaining relations with the neighboring Taliban in Afghanistan, and had also given it diplomatic recognition. However, after the attacks, Pakistan stopped support of the Taliban government and cooperated with the United States in their efforts to capture Al-Qaeda forces and leader Osama bin Laden. Thousands of Pakistani military troops were deployed along the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan and US overflights were also allowed, to help in their hunt for Osama bin Laden. "One has to think and take actions in the interest of the nation, and that's what I did," said Musharraf.
However, Musharraf told CBS that he found some of the US demands "ludicrous" like the demand that anti-US demonstrations be barred. "If somebody's expressing views, we cannot curb the expression of views," the Pakistani leader said.
At present, General Pervez Musharraf is in Washington, where today he is scheduled to visit the White House to meet with US President George W. Bush. On Wednesday next week, a trilateral meeting has been scheduled between Musharraf, George Bush and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.
Posted on : Fri, 22 Sep 2006 08:22:00 GMT | Author : Peter Goodyear
News Category : General
Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf has said in an interview, that his country was threatened to be bombed by the United States in the year 2001, post the 9/11 terrorist attacks, if it did not offer its cooperation in America's war against terrorism.Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf has said in an interview, that his country was threatened to be bombed by the United States in the year 2001, post the 9/11 terrorist attacks, if it did not offer its cooperation in America's war against terrorism. The interview, held with CBS news magazine show “60 Minutes”, will be aired on television network CBS on Sunday. Musharraf said the threat was issued by the then US deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, during conversation with the intelligence director of Pakistan.
"The intelligence director told me that (Mr Armitage) said, 'Be prepared to be bombed. Be prepared to go back to the stone age'," said General Musharraf who added that it was insulting. The Pakistani leader told CBS news "I think it was a very rude remark."
Although Mr Armitage did not agree with the terminology used, he did say that his message to Pakistan, to help America in its campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan, was tough. He told CNN that his message to Pakistan was that the country was either "with us or against us", but he was not aware how the message was communicated in such a different way to President Musharraf.
Prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks, Pakistan was maintaining relations with the neighboring Taliban in Afghanistan, and had also given it diplomatic recognition. However, after the attacks, Pakistan stopped support of the Taliban government and cooperated with the United States in their efforts to capture Al-Qaeda forces and leader Osama bin Laden. Thousands of Pakistani military troops were deployed along the border areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan and US overflights were also allowed, to help in their hunt for Osama bin Laden. "One has to think and take actions in the interest of the nation, and that's what I did," said Musharraf.
However, Musharraf told CBS that he found some of the US demands "ludicrous" like the demand that anti-US demonstrations be barred. "If somebody's expressing views, we cannot curb the expression of views," the Pakistani leader said.
At present, General Pervez Musharraf is in Washington, where today he is scheduled to visit the White House to meet with US President George W. Bush. On Wednesday next week, a trilateral meeting has been scheduled between Musharraf, George Bush and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.
