Taking exception to Pervez Musharraf’s statement that the US military aid for the war on terror was diverted to boost defences against India during his tenure, Pakistan on Wednesday said the former military ruler has not done any service to the country by making the remarks.
“If he (Musharraf) has said what has been printed in newspapers, then he has not done any service to Pakistan. If he has said this, he has not strengthened Pakistan’s case,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters in his hometown of Multan, without elaborating.
He was responding to a question about Mr. Musharraf’s recent revelation that the US military aid meant for the war on terror was diverted to strengthen Pakistan’s defences against India.
In an interview to a Pakistani news channel, the former President had admitted that he had violated the rules governing the use of the military aid, but justified his action saying he had “acted in the best interest of Pakistan”.
After Mr. Musharraf’s disclosure, India said his statement did not come as a surprise. “We have for some years now arguing that the only problem we have with the US military aid to Pakistan is its misuse against us,” Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said in New Delhi on Monday.
Mr. Qureshi on Wednesday said Pakistan is playing a responsible role in the war on terror in its own interest and has been praised by the world community for doing so.
The Pakistan People’s Party-led government has taken the issue seriously and created national unity and coordination among all stakeholders to take on militants, he said.
This policy has produced good results during the military campaign against militants in Swat, Malakand division and the tribal areas as the people are now backing the security forces, Mr. Qureshi said.
