Recognizing Taliban a mistake

Karachi. Former Pakistan President and Army Chief Gen Parvez Musharraf has described Pakistan’s recognition of Taliban rule in Afghanistan a mistake.

Speaking at a Youth Parliament Convention here Dec 4, he said
that it was a ‘blunder’ on part of Pakistan but blamed the West and United States for the birth of Al Qaida and leaving Pakistan high and dry after
the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, reports the respected newspaper Dawn of Karachi.

He said Islamic Mujahideen were introduced to fight against the Soviet Union in 1979, and after the latter’s withdrawal in 1989, they were not
looked after. They were ethnic Pakhtoons. But to say that “Taliban are our children and we created them….is not true,” said the former President.

He admitted though that recognising the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was a blunder on Pakistan’s part, Dawn quoted him as saying.

Gen Musharraf, who had seized power in a military coup by deposing the elected government, said that the Army must have a constitutional role
in Pakistan. Political parties do not take better decisions in the greater interest of the nation and democratic governments have never performed
well in Pakistan, he claimed.

Military governments in Pakistan, on the other hand, have always worked for the progress of the country, Dawn quoted him as saying.