Former Pakistan ISI head warns of civil war
Retired Lt. Gen. Hamid Gul, whow as the director of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency under former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, has claimed in a television interview that Pakistan could slide into civil war if the government does not take immediate and firm steps to quell rising unrest in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
Gul made his observations during an interview with Afghanistan's Tolo TV.
Gul commented that President Pervez Musharraf's decision to participate in the U.S.-led war on terror by attacking the Taliban and al-Qaida guerrillas in the tribal zones of Pakistan was fomenting unrest.
Gul also speculated about a growing divide within the country's military officer corps, with senior officers tending to be more pro-Western, while junior officers were more sympathetic with Muslim values. Another divisive issue touched upon by Gul was rampant corruption.
Gul noted that none of these issues by itself would push the country into anarchy, But their near-simultaneous appearance in Pakistani politics was alarming, and could further weaken society if they were not resolutely addressed, he said.
Gul shared his belief that Musharraf was fully aware that his campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban in the tribal areas could intensify political unrest, which he might use to his political advantage by bringing the general elections scheduled for 2007 forward.
Gul told his interviewer, "There is the possibility of new elections in 2006 in Pakistan. Musharraf knows that there is the likelihood of civil war in Pakistan over the issue of war against al-Qaida and Taliban in tribal areas."
Gul said that the Hamid Karzai regime in Afghanistan was nothing but a puppet government installed by the Bush administration, noting, "The real dialogue is actually between Musharraf and Bush."
Gul made his observations during an interview with Afghanistan's Tolo TV.
Gul commented that President Pervez Musharraf's decision to participate in the U.S.-led war on terror by attacking the Taliban and al-Qaida guerrillas in the tribal zones of Pakistan was fomenting unrest.
Gul also speculated about a growing divide within the country's military officer corps, with senior officers tending to be more pro-Western, while junior officers were more sympathetic with Muslim values. Another divisive issue touched upon by Gul was rampant corruption.
Gul noted that none of these issues by itself would push the country into anarchy, But their near-simultaneous appearance in Pakistani politics was alarming, and could further weaken society if they were not resolutely addressed, he said.
Gul shared his belief that Musharraf was fully aware that his campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban in the tribal areas could intensify political unrest, which he might use to his political advantage by bringing the general elections scheduled for 2007 forward.
Gul told his interviewer, "There is the possibility of new elections in 2006 in Pakistan. Musharraf knows that there is the likelihood of civil war in Pakistan over the issue of war against al-Qaida and Taliban in tribal areas."
Gul said that the Hamid Karzai regime in Afghanistan was nothing but a puppet government installed by the Bush administration, noting, "The real dialogue is actually between Musharraf and Bush."
posted by Marko at 3/12/2006 09:04:00 AM
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