I was able to catch excerpts of a very interesting interview with President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan on 60 Minutes. It was his first one-on-one interview since the assassination of his political rival, Benazir Bhutto. The interviewer - Lara Logan - had some good, and tough questions; however, I felt it was very awkward when she asked Musharraf whether he liked the slain Benazir Bhutto. What a question!
Here are some highlights from the interview...
Asked if he liked Bhutto, Musharraf appeared to be taken aback by the question (who wouldn't be!) and answered that it really wasn't about one's personal likes or dislikes, but that it was "more for the nation that I thought one has to interact with her ". He also made it clear that he found Bhutto at times annoying, because she refused to listen to advice regarding her safety. Musharraf also conceded that her return to Pakistan was a bitter pill for him to swallow. It was part of a deal brokered with the US government after a year + of negotiations due to the state of unrest in Pakistan.
In response to allegations that he was somehow involved in Bhutto's assassination, Musharraf said that "nobody has a right to blame anyone for killing anyone unless they have the proof. Why would I inform her [Bhutto] of intelligence reports about threats to her life? Why would I tell her 'don't go there, don't do this, don't do that'. I cannot prove my innocence legally... but only through what I stand for as a person."
Musharraf felt that Bhutto made a mistake in going to the rally. He asked her not to go. He suggested the use of helicopters. He said that in some of his earlier advice to Bhutto on her movements, he got flack from the Western media. Musharraf suggests that Bhutto was partly responsible for her death. He says that "she should have moved fast through the crowd", not standing in an open roof, "because you are vulnerable. Who can check these people at that stage? The mistake was standing up in the car. She is the only one to blame...for standing up in the car...the responsibility is hers. This is a fact. She shouldn't have stood up."
Musharraf also defends himself saying that Bhutto was given "more security than any other person."
On his lack of effort in finding Osama bin Laden, Musharraf responds "We are fighting terrorism and fighting extremism. We are fighting Al Qaeda. We have eliminated 700 Al Qaeda leaders. Which other country has done this? There is no proof whatsoever that Osama bin Laden is here. We are not specifically looking for him." Musharraf further added that as part of his fight on terrorism, if bin Laden were indeed in Pakistan, then "maybe we are looking for him also."
On the Taliban increasing in Pakistan under his watch, Musharraf states, "we must not say that the Taliban are in Pakistan. It is a small part the population, and it is this population where they hide and they get support. They re-grouped because of Afghanistan. They may be getting stronger. I can’t say for sure. The whole coalition should share the blame for not succeeding."
For more details on the interview, see:
For information on Bhutto, see:
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