When Musharraf chose Palestine over Kashmir

jimpack

Minister (2k+ posts)
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was stumped for words when Pervez Musharraf asked him to resolve the Palestine issue instead of Kashmir during his visit to Islamabad in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

In his just-released memoirs, Blair also recalls how Musharraf blamed Gen Zia ul Haq for furthering radicalism in Pakistan through his policies, heightening the Kashmir issue and making reconciliation with India harder.

Pakistan President Musharraf, Blair writes, was then in a "difficult position" because his government "had worked" with the Taliban government and the borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan were porous.

Yet, Blair writes, "He was an ally of ourselves and the US, of course". Describing his visit to Pakistan on October 5, 2001, Blair writes: "I was ushered into Musharraf's study in the Presidential Palace. All through the meeting a bodyguard hovered near the door, coming in and standing over us each time the servants brought in tea or refreshments".

He says Musharraf himself was clear in his condemnation of the Taliban and in his offer of help and support. "He knew the attack had changed everything".

Recalling his conversation with the President, Blair writes that Musharraf told him that in the 1970s General Zia-ul-Haq had made the fatal error of linking Pakistani nationalism to devout Islam.

The connection between the two, Musharraf explained, had furthered radicalism in the country, heightened the issue of Kashmir and made reconciliation with India harder.

Blair says this was something "I reflected upon a good deal in later years".
Gen Zia, who overthrew Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's government in a coup, ruled Pakistan from 1977 to 1988.

Blair then quotes a conversation with Musharraf: "Surely," I said, "economic development is the key challenge for Pakistan".

"Of course," he said, "but the reality is today Pakistani politics is about nuclear weapons and Kashmir".

"What can we do to help?" I asked, expecting an answer to do with aid or India. "Do Palestine," he immediately shot back. "That would help".

Blair writes that he came away from the meeting pleased with Musharraf's support, but adds that he was "uneasy at how clearly he (Musharraf) felt the ultimate success of the mission was in the balance".

In another section of the book, Blair writes: "The truth is that the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir did erupt into sporadic violence andthere was terrorism coming out of Pakistan.
 

swisspak

Siasat.pk - Blogger
As we know Musharraf always wanted to root out the root cause of a problem, so i believe mentioning palestine instead of asking for some pounds was not a bad thing to start with. For kashmir we dont need the british help anymore, those days r gone... Geo political situation of the world around us is changing by the day and the new world order is in the making. Occupied Kashmir will be ultimately liberated from the hindus InshAllah. Food for thought!!! (CHINA)
 

YAHYA87

Senator (1k+ posts)
Musharraf is very Clever person and among the few people who have sense of Public support and its importance in any struggle....What Blair has Pointed out has few things missing like one thing a biggest Mistake i would call from Pakistan Establishment was Encouraging the Banned Outfit cause due to that not only Kashmir Struggle becomes Violent but also Kashmiris themselves started getting fedup cause so many Trained Workers of Banned Outfits were Sent to Kashmir to Fight the war of Kashmiri people due to that Kashmiri started feeling RELAXED that they dont even need to Struggle when others are doing this favor for them so Musharraf after watching this situation Banned those outfit and also their support in Pakistan so that Kashmiris should taste the medicine of Struggle by themselves and now we are watching the LAUD AND CLEAR RESULT as now India cant even Blame Pakistan for anything cause those Organizations are BANNED and OFFICIALLY DECLARED NON STATE ACTORS and also now Kashmiri struggle is becoming more Political then Militant....So this time India is in Grave Danger cause they know that this time they got PEOPLE AGAINST THEM not some MILITANTS so this time they cant make the WORLD FOOL BY NAMING SOME PAKISTANI MILITANT GROUPS cause so far in many parts of Kashmir KASHMIRI PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS NOT MILITANTS AS THEY ALWAYS CLAIM IN PAST.......
 

sarbakaf

Siasat.pk - Blogger
dil behlanay ko jimpack yeh kehayal bahut aacha hai...
khush rahoo....
kabootar ke tarah aanikhain band rakhoo.....
 

Back
Top