Multifaceted approach against Taliban: Musharraf

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf says al-Qaida needs to be eliminated from the country by force, but dealing with the Taliban requires a military, political and socio-economic approach.

Musharraf spoke on Friday night at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. He says the Taliban is not a monolith, but rather a spread-out organization with no single commander who could be removed for the command structure to be destroyed.

Musharraf is a stalwart supporter of the US in the war on terror. He ended his decade-long rule and resigned as president in August 2008 amid threats of impeachment.

Since his departure, he’s given several speeches at think tanks and universities around the world.