Washington: Pointing out that it was
"critical" to defeat Taliban, Former Pakistan President Parvez
Musharraf has sharply criticised US plans to begin troops pull
out from Afghanistan in a year's time.
"We are there because we understand how critical it is to
the region and to the world," Musharraf, now on a lecture tour
of US, told a gathering at the Portland University in Oregon
last night.
While praising President Barack Obama for sending 30,000
more troops to Afghanistan, Musharraf said efforts should be
to win the war against terror fully.
Opposing Obama's plan to begin withdrawing forces in July
2011, the former Pakistan ruler said the fight should go on
until the Taliban is defeated.
He said Obama was too worried about public opinion.
"Sometimes in the lives of leaders, you must do the unpopular
as the real test of leadership lies there."
The former Pakistan Army chief said the recent wave of
arrests of top Taliban commanders were a "positive sign", but
did not mark a major blow to Taliban forces.
He said Taliban was not a monolith force as some people
think and a person who is the second most important man of the
group has not great impact on Taliban.
In the address, Musharraf claimed he would return to
Pakistan if the people wanted him back and thought he could
help the country.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 13:40