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I will quit only after Pak becomes stable democracy: Musharraf
Islamabad, Sept 27: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, under intense pressure from opposition legislators to quit as Army Chief, has said he would do so only after turning the country into a `stable democracy`.
Islamabad, Sept 27: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, under intense pressure from opposition legislators to quit as Army Chief, has said he would do so only after turning the country into a "stable democracy".
"I do understand this is not democratic and I've said
this very openly in Pakistan...but under the present
circumstances of turmoil in the region, internationally and
internally, there is a requirement of stability and unity of
command that I am providing," Musharraf told the Canadian
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee at Ottawa yesterday.
"The moment the democratic structure stabilises, I will remove the uniform," local media quoted him as saying.
Musharraf claimed most legislators wanted him to stay on as Army Chief.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Musharraf said Pakistan stood for a peaceful resolution of the dispute but it could not be "rolled under the carpet". He said India and Pakistan would have to resolve the issue through composite dialogue.
Musharraf also said his country was playing a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism.
"We are carrying out the fight against terrorism in all dimensions and aspersions against Pakistan in the context of our western (Afghan) border are totally wrong," he said adding Pakistan had acted against al-Qaeda and Taliban.
Musharraf said Pakistan was also fighting religious extremism within the country and had taken over the inaccessible tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
"The moment the democratic structure stabilises, I will remove the uniform," local media quoted him as saying.
Musharraf claimed most legislators wanted him to stay on as Army Chief.
On Jammu and Kashmir, Musharraf said Pakistan stood for a peaceful resolution of the dispute but it could not be "rolled under the carpet". He said India and Pakistan would have to resolve the issue through composite dialogue.
Musharraf also said his country was playing a pivotal role in the fight against terrorism.
"We are carrying out the fight against terrorism in all dimensions and aspersions against Pakistan in the context of our western (Afghan) border are totally wrong," he said adding Pakistan had acted against al-Qaeda and Taliban.
Musharraf said Pakistan was also fighting religious extremism within the country and had taken over the inaccessible tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
Bureau Report