By IANS,
Islamabad : Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf’s admission that his country had set up militant groups in Kashmir has drawn vehement criticism from the Pakistani media, with one paper saying Thursday that he had “shamed” his country and another terming the remarks “treasonous”.
“After announcing his intention to enter politics, the irresponsible and self-serving statements made by Pervez Musharraf have caused all Pakistanis to hang their heads in shame,” an editorial in the widely-circulated Urdu daily Jang said.
“People can be heard asking what else has he got left to do after letting Afghanistan’s fire spread and engulf Pakistan after 9/11, handing over many Pakistanis like Dr Aafia (Siddiqui, a neuroscientist sentenced to 86 years in prison in the US on charges of being a suicide bomber and having links with the Al Qaeda), spilling innocent human blood on the Lal Masjid, ignoring UN resolutions in discussions on Kashmir issue, and insulting national hero Dr A.Q. Khan,” it said.
The editorial said Musharraf’s comments, in an interview to German newspaper Der Spiegel, on Pakistan’s atomic programme and Kashmir were “almost akin to Indian and Israeli pronouncements”.
In the interview, Musharraf said militant groups “were indeed formed” to fight India in Kashmir. “The government turned a blind eye because they wanted India to discuss Kashmir,” he said.
The editorial said not only were the remarks “irresponsible”, but also seemed to suggest “part of some new international stratagem and Indian politicians and media and even some circles in America and the West are calling for a diplomatic offensive and sanctions against Pakistan”.
A cartoon in the paper captioned “Jis thali mein khaya, usi mein….(From the plate he ate, in the same…)” depicting Musharraf eating from and then spitting in the same food bowl.
Also slamming the comments, the influential Nawa-i-Waqt said that from its start, the Musharraf regime had a “weak and ineffectual policy” on Kashmir.
“Pakistan’s principled position had always been that the UN resolutions should form the basis for solving the Kashmir dispute. Instead of remaining steadfast to this, Musharraf considered the senseless and foolish proposals of autonomy and a division of Kashmir as a basis for solution,” it said.
The editorial said when the Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom was at “its peak” and needed diplomatic and moral support from Pakistan, Musharraf — instead of orchestrating international support for the Kashmiris — was making such comments “which are damaging the Kashmiris’ cause”.
“Before speaking on such issues, he must regain balance. He served as army chief for nine years and president for seven and it is obvious that he knows a lot of national secrets. He must, however, remember the oath he took under the constitution and if, while spouting all kinds of nonsense, he reveals things which damage the national interest, then these activities are treasonous.”