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| Bhutto questions Musharraf's commitment to war on terror | | |
WASHINGTON, APR 29
Questioning the commitment of President Pervez Musharraf to the war on terror, former Pakistan Prime Minister Banazir Bhutto has said the forthcoming elections are perhaps the only chance of the country staying away from the path of Talibanisation.
"The PPP (Pakistan People's Party of Bhutto) and I are worried that despite Gen Musharraf's declarations of support in the war against terrorism, the situation domestically in Pakistan is worse than it was following the events of 9/11," she said in an interview to 'The Washington Times'.
The religious parties, she said, "have risen to power for the first time in the country's history, suicide bombings have occurred, again for the first time in Pakistan's history. Moreover, the then-defeated and demoralised Taliban have now re-established themselves in tribal areas of Pakistan. Further, it appears that they have established a safe haven from where they collect taxes, dispense their form of justice and run an irregular army."
Elsewhere in Pakistan, more militias hiding under the name of madrassa have been established since 9/11, she said, adding the Jamia Hafsa madrassa in Islamabad is one example.
"It's frightening to think how many such hidden sleeper cells have been created since 9/11 housing armed persons who can take on the state at any time. The Islamabad madrassa, allied with a government-appointed cleric, is now threatening barbers, beauticians and the entertainment industry while the regime says it is helpless to act."
"The general elections of 2007 could turn out to be a last chance to save a moderate Pakistan from the creeping Talibanisation that is taking place," the self-exiled former Prime Minister said. (More)
"If anything the years since 9/11 have demonstrated that a military regime is unsuccessful in undermining the forces of terrorism, extremism and militancy. In fact the PPP believes that it is democracy, alone which can undermine the forces of terrorism and extremism," Bhutto said.
She claimed that in 1993 Pakistan was about to be declared a terrorist state following the first attack on the World Trade Towers. "However, I was elected soon thereafter. ... My government stopped the spread of terrorism. After my overthrow, the terrorists regained the upper hand and planned the second attack on the World Trade Towers."
"There is absolutely no doubt amongst ordinary Pakistanis that we need to get rid of the extremists from our lands. There is no difference of policy objectives with the West.
"With the resurgence of the Taliban along the border of Afghanistan, and the recent spread of extremists into more settled areas like Tank (in North West Frontier Province) and Islamabad, it is necessary that Pakistan do as much as it can to rid the country of hate-mongers. We have a common purpose in undermining the forces of terrorism," Bhutto argued.
Former Premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N and the parties in the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy have committed themselves to fighting terrorism and building peace in the Charter for Democracy signed in the summer of 2006, she said.
"It would be easier for a democratically elected government led by the PPP to involve the people in building peace and fighting terror. The reason for America's unpopularity in Pakistan is that democratic development in Pakistan has rarely been a priority for the United States. Ordinary Pakistanis feel alienated, and therefore we see rising anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. The US government must support democracy and give democracy time to flourish," she said.
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