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Musharraf agrees in principle to send troops to Iraq
Washington, June 25: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has agreed `in principle` to send troops to Iraq, but on the conditions that Islamabad would not have to finance such a force and it would go under the cover of the UN, Organisation of Islamic States or Gulf Cooperation Council.
Washington, June 25: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has agreed "in principle" to send troops to Iraq, but on the conditions that Islamabad would not have to finance such a force and it would go under the cover of the UN, Organisation of Islamic States or Gulf Cooperation Council.
In an interview to a television channel, Musharraf said US President George W Bush had brought up the issue of sending Pakistani troops to Iraq during their meeting at Camp David yesterday.
"Yes, he did talk of the Iraq dispute and we did discuss Pakistani troops in principle, but we are looking at the modalities. One of the issues is certainly the financial package because it wouldn't be fair to expect Pakistan itself to finance such a large force," Musharraf said. He said the political aspect was also important.
"The issue is not of controlling a Muslim state, but the issue is more the perception of the Muslim world, and we need to see whether it can get united nations cover or the OIC cover or maybe the GCC cover."
Pakistan also wants "additional countries participating" in any Iraq force, Musharraf said. He said he had raised the question of the governance of Iraq during the meeting.
"This is one area we are examining. I feel the main problem is to establish some semblance of governance by the Iraqi people, because governance can't be done by any non-Iraqi extensively," Musharraf said.
There are three major groups - the Shias in the south, the Kurds in the north and the Sunnis in the Centre, he said.
"This is another problem area where the governance really will face some challenges," Musharraf said.
Bureau Report
"Yes, he did talk of the Iraq dispute and we did discuss Pakistani troops in principle, but we are looking at the modalities. One of the issues is certainly the financial package because it wouldn't be fair to expect Pakistan itself to finance such a large force," Musharraf said. He said the political aspect was also important.
"The issue is not of controlling a Muslim state, but the issue is more the perception of the Muslim world, and we need to see whether it can get united nations cover or the OIC cover or maybe the GCC cover."
Pakistan also wants "additional countries participating" in any Iraq force, Musharraf said. He said he had raised the question of the governance of Iraq during the meeting.
"This is one area we are examining. I feel the main problem is to establish some semblance of governance by the Iraqi people, because governance can't be done by any non-Iraqi extensively," Musharraf said.
There are three major groups - the Shias in the south, the Kurds in the north and the Sunnis in the Centre, he said.
"This is another problem area where the governance really will face some challenges," Musharraf said.
Bureau Report